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Homeland Security sent freedom of information requests through political filter

FAC July 21, 2010

For at least a year, the Homeland Security Department detoured requests for federal records to senior political advisers for highly unusual scrutiny, probing for information about the requesters and delaying disclosures deemed too politically sensitive, according to nearly 1,000 pages of internal e-mails obtained by The Associated Press. AP July 21, 2010 By Ted Bridis WASHINGTON (AP) — The department abandoned the practice after AP investigated. Inspectors from the department’s Office of Inspector General quietly conducted

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Shutdown of blogging site sparks dispute

FAC July 21, 2010

A free blogging site, Blogetery.com, went dark less than two weeks ago, and its disappearance is stirring controversy about the obligations of Internet services and threats to free speech on the Web. New York Times July 21, 2010 By Steve Lohr Visitors to Blogetery, which says it housed 73,000 blogs, now find a page that is blank except for a brief message saying “our server was terminated without any notification or explanation.” It directs browsers

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Judge rejects ACLU’s request for information on detainees

FAC July 20, 2010

A federal judge in New York has decided that he lacks the authority to order the government to disclose information regarding the treatment of Sept. 11 detainees – even if the government’s actions were unlawful. The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press July 20, 2010 By Brian Westley “Courts are not invested with the competence to second-guess the CIA Director regarding the appropriateness of any particular intelligence source or method,” wrote U.S. District Court

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Ninth circuit weighs in on internet anonymity, consumer griping at risk

FAC July 20, 2010

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision last Monday in Inre:Anonymous Online Speakers, a case that could be influential for future courts decisions on whether to order the identification of anonymous or pseudonymous Internet speakers. Citizen Media Law Project July 20, 2010 By Citizen Media Law Project Staff The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision last Monday in Inre: Anonymous Online Speakers, No. 09-71265 (9th Cir. July 12, 2010), a case that could

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Judge says constitution protects right to lie about Purple Heart

FAC July 20, 2010

A federal judge has declared unconstitutional a little-known law making it a crime to falsely claim to have been awarded a military medal. Wired July 20, 2010 By David Kravetz A Colorado man who was never in the military was arrested for falsely claiming to have won the Purple Heart (.pdf) and other medals as a Marine in Iraq. He challenged the Stolen Valor Act of 2005, which provides penalties up to a year in prison, on

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