Web Site Says Justice Department Demanded It Secretly Turn Over Readers' Information

POPASMOKE · Nov 12, 2009

An independent news Web site says the Department of Justice ordered it to release detailed information on its readers -- then directed the site to keep quiet about the demand.
Kristina Clair, systems administrator for Indymedia.us, said she was shocked when she received a subpoena from U.S. Attorney Tim Morrison in Indianapolis in January demanding the IP address of every person who visited the site on June 25, 2008. She said she was also instructed "not to disclose the existence of this request unless authorized by the Assistant U.S. Attorney."

(Bolding mine)
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/200...tly-turn-readers-information/?test=latestnews

Ultimately they didn't comply and the feds dropped the subpoena.

Scary!

Makes you wonder how many sites we all visit may have received the same demands that we're unaware of.

DavidZahir · Nov 12, 2009

This is why we need to watch government like a hawk.

Hittman · Nov 12, 2009

It's also a good reason to delete log files.

SPMiller · Nov 12, 2009

They have been doing this for many years now. No one should be surprised.

But certain corporations and groups of corporations, christened under our capitalist economic system, have been doing worse with the DMCA. Subpoenas galore.

Gregg · Nov 13, 2009

Big Brother IS watching.

Hide!

Exir · Nov 15, 2009

I loved Big Brother.

Plot Device · Nov 15, 2009

Anyone know what might be so important about that date??

June 25, 2008??

benbradley · Nov 15, 2009

WIth the proliferation of the Internet I'm sure this (government entities getting court orders for website and other log files) happens a lot.

Plot Device said:
Anyone know what might be so important about that date??

June 25, 2008??

I'll guess that someone did something online on that date that got the attention of the Justice Department. Maybe they found a computer that was apparently used for some nefarious purposes, it has that site in the cache or a cookie from that site on that date, and they're looking for more clues on who used that computer and from where. It could be lots of things along those lines.

Williebee · Nov 15, 2009

I'm thinking that, since the request did not have the proper authorization, and that the AG's office says they didn't even see the request, that somebody may have been doing some personal business on Uncle Sam's stationary, and may or may not have gotten caught.

bettielee · Nov 15, 2009

Clearly a case of "Let's get some information we want, illegally. These little people are too stupid to realize and/or do anything about it."

Bad move, government. Bad move.

regdog · Nov 16, 2009

Similar thing happened with Jet Blue except they turned over the info

Jet Blue 1

Jet Blue 2

Web Site Says Justice Department Demanded It Secretly Turn Over Readers' Information

POPASMOKE

Keep your turns up

DavidZahir

Malkavian Primogen

Hittman

SPMiller

Prodigiously Hanged

Gregg

Life is good

Exir

Out of the cradle endlessly rocking

Plot Device

A woman said to write like a man.

benbradley

It's a doggy dog world

Williebee

Capeless, wingless, & yet I fly.

bettielee

I'm a sparkly fairy princess!

regdog

The Scavengers