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Patriot Act Suppresses News Of Challenge to Patriot Act

Posted by TimSlavin at April 30, 2004

"The ACLU's complaint focuses on the use of national security letters to obtain information held by "electronic communication service providers." The group says the letters could force Internet providers to turn over names, screen names, e-mail addresses and other customer information without proper notice to the people involved."

This is scary stuff. Basically under the Patriot Act the US government has a blank check to investigate anything without any judicial review (unless a case is brought to trial). Even worse, the subjects of their investigations either do not know they're being investigated (so their due process rights are violated, not to mention their right to the presumption of innocence) or if they do know they are barred from speaking publicly, including (from what I can tell) speaking to a lawyer to help them defend themselves.

In short, if you're online or offline, you can be investigated by a local FBI field office with the presumption that you're guilty and have no right to due process unless they file a court case against you. From WashingtonPost.com.

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