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On RT America, I discuss the recent court ruling in a lawsuit where an unnamed telecommunications company (believed to be Credo) challenged the gag provisions in FBI national security letters.
A US district court in California found in a decision made public on Friday that Nondisclosure or gag provisions of National Security Letters “significantly infringe upon speech regarding controversial government powers.” The provisions were found to violate the First Amendment and the “separation of powers principles.” The court also determined the provisions were effectively preventing public debate on surveillance.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) brought the lawsuit.They celebrated the victory and declared, “The government’s gags have truncated the public debate on these controversial surveillance tools. Our client looks forward to the day when it can publicly discuss its experience.”
For more on NSLs and a breakdown of the ruling, go here.
4 Comments
Beginning of the end ? not at all friends.we live in a society now that’s not much far away from the old Kremlin.
They(FBI)will find someway to continue their efforts.
Prediction: This will be overturned on appeal based on non-public information. The supremes will refuse to hear the case.
Boxturtle (And ObamaLLP simply ignores rulings it doesn’t like, anyway)
Hoover must be having a hissy fit of biblical proportions.
But yea, I bet the DOJ filed for appeal within minutes.
Me too. And others too. Since they haven’t been able to acknowledge that they’d even received an NSL, let alone what the FBI wanted, no telling the extent to which these bastards have dug into peoples lives. And they still have that info.
I wonder if the client will release a “list” of FBI targets?
And then, in turn, I wonder if this will allow targeted customers to file FOIA’s to the FBI? Well, time will tell I guess.
This is potentially huge, and I’m puzzled why (at least as far as I’ve seen) there’s been so little discussion of it in Left Blogistan.
I assume the judge’s decision will be struck down, either at the Circuit Court of Appeals level, or, if it’s necessary as a backstop, the Republocrat Supreme Court. But in the meantime, Judge Illston should get her image on a postage stamp — she’s a national hero.