Does anyone REALLY think this is not a gross infringement of free speech?
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A provision of the Patriot Act that requires people who are formally contacted by the FBI for information to keep it a secret is unconstitutional, a federal judge ruled on Thursday.
U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero sided with the American Civil Liberties Union, which brought the lawsuit and argued that an FBI letter requesting information — called a National Security Letter (NSL)– is effectively a gag order but without the authorization of a judge.
The ACLU says more than 143,000 NSLs were issued between 2003 and 2005.
That means in just a few years, 143,000 entities had their free speech rights violated. Gives new meaning to “land of the free and the home of the brave”.
But I expect there will be appeals until the government gets a “government friendly” court and then back to square one. I hope not.
Last 2 posts in Free speech
- Alan Shore before the Supreme Court - April 23rd, 2008
- still banning books. in the 21st century. - February 14th, 2008
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