More chilling than law enforcement seizing assets from a newspaper for inspection is the sheer arrogance of individuals in the media industry believing that they are above the law. Literally. The first amendment has - time and again - protected our media from censorship. I cannot possibly imagine how one could arrive at the conclusion that the first amendment also protects the media (or anyone else) from criminal investigations. I'm a member of the computer forensics community; I know what is going to happen to the computers in Harrisburg, and the ridiculous allegations thrown about by a few individuals discredit the media community as a whole. I'm sure you're aware of the adage "A bad apple spoils a bunch?" It holds especially true in the media. You have a larger audience than a nameless person unheard by the masses. To see wild claims from someone in the media about government conspiracies and constitutional violations over a matter of criminal investigation do a great discredit to your once noble profession. If the seized computer's slack space, RAM, or more simple tracking means contain data showing access to the web page in question, someone (or several someones) are going to spend an exquisitely long time in prison. Invest in soap-on-a-rope now. Honestly though...simply for the belief that the First Amendment somehow grants the media immunity from criminal behavior, I sincerely wish that the rest of your industry would scorn you, decry you as unworthy, and distance themselves from such unethical beliefs. Unfortunately, I don't think they will. Thus, the growing scorn for American media. Thanks for being a part of the division.
Slashdot Mirror
More chilling than law enforcement seizing assets from a newspaper for inspection is the sheer arrogance of individuals in the media industry believing that they are above the law. Literally. The first amendment has - time and again - protected our media from censorship. I cannot possibly imagine how one could arrive at the conclusion that the first amendment also protects the media (or anyone else) from criminal investigations. I'm a member of the computer forensics community; I know what is going to happen to the computers in Harrisburg, and the ridiculous allegations thrown about by a few individuals discredit the media community as a whole. I'm sure you're aware of the adage "A bad apple spoils a bunch?" It holds especially true in the media. You have a larger audience than a nameless person unheard by the masses. To see wild claims from someone in the media about government conspiracies and constitutional violations over a matter of criminal investigation do a great discredit to your once noble profession. If the seized computer's slack space, RAM, or more simple tracking means contain data showing access to the web page in question, someone (or several someones) are going to spend an exquisitely long time in prison. Invest in soap-on-a-rope now. Honestly though...simply for the belief that the First Amendment somehow grants the media immunity from criminal behavior, I sincerely wish that the rest of your industry would scorn you, decry you as unworthy, and distance themselves from such unethical beliefs. Unfortunately, I don't think they will. Thus, the growing scorn for American media. Thanks for being a part of the division.