Fergie's Tech Blog

Must Read: What It Feels Like Living With a Gag Order

Ryan Singel writes on 27B Stroke 6:

An illuminating affidavit from a lawsuit brought by the president of ISP challenging the constitutionality of a key Patriot Act has been set free on the internet, casting light on what it feels like to receive a subpoena covering one of your friend's and not being able to talk to anyone other than a lawyer about it.

The lawsuit, brought by the ACLU on behalf of a small ISP and web hosting company that seems to specialize in working with political groups, challenges the legality of National Security Letters, one of the most widely used powers in the Patriot Act. These NSLs allow the government to compel companies to turn over records, including communication records, by simply asserting that the records are germane to an anti-terrorism investigation. No judge need be consulted.

posted by Fergie @ 9/27/2006 05:57:00 PM