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Department of Justice Demands Facebook Information From 'Anti-Administration Activists' (cnn.com)
PopeRatzo shares a report from CNN: Trump administration lawyers are demanding the private account information of potentially thousands of Facebook users in three separate search warrants served on the social media giant, according to court documents obtained by CNN. The warrants specifically target the accounts of three Facebook users who are described by their attorneys as "anti-administration activists who have spoken out at organized events, and who are generally very critical of this administration's policies." One of those users, Emmelia Talarico, operated the disruptj20 page where Inauguration Day protests were organized and discussed; the page was visited by an estimated 6,000 users whose identities the government would have access to if Facebook hands over the information sought in the search warrants. In court filings, Talarico says if her account information was given to the government, officials would have access to her "personal passwords, security questions and answers, and credit card information," plus "the private lists of invitees and attendees to multiple political events sponsored by the page."
Trump must have watched the Catalan news reports and said... Can I do that?
The Trump Administration is evil. I suppose I am now a target.
This president not only hasn't read the constitution, but wouldn't care even if had, and he's made that clear. Show me where the is a violent crime or public threat to people's physical safety, and perhaps I'll consider, But this is simply a witch hunt for anyone who speaks out openly against the Trump administration. American was supposed to be a place where people political opinion and protests were supposed to be allowed without government intimidation. A government elected by the people (which the electoral college vote is not I might add). This is as bad as the McCarthy days. Every time this president does something that is in violation to the constitution, there should be a vote in congress to impeach him. But of course that won't happen, until this president embarrasses this country and his party so badly that we are in danger of being cut off from the world. (Which given his UN performance, I wouldn't rule out). I suspect Facebook and other IT organizations will resist this. Perhaps Twitter should consider censoring his statements. Technically a constitutional violation as well, but ...this "twit" can do far more damage than anyone posting on Twitter of Facebook single handed.
If they are investigating a criminal act and have evidence for several plots, why don't they just get a warrant? Why ask Facebook for something that a judge can compel them to provide? Maybe the Justice Department doesn't know how warrants work?