Posted on 11/24/2013 10:00:50 AM PST by ilovesarah2012
Many groups have claimed that the NSA’s surveillance program is an unconstitutional violation of privacy. But a different type of challenge is growing teeth. Led by civil liberties group the Electronic Frontier Foundation, more than 20 organizations, with interests ranging from marijuana to guns, are currently suing the federal government. They believe the NSA surveillance program has a chilling effect on speech, thus violating the First Amendment.
It’s difficult to prove this, though. There’s no way to quantify the students who don’t join their college’s “legalize marijuana” club, or the number of Arab-Americans who avoid political topics via email. Absences are murky to measure. But the PEN American Center, a group that defends free expression and human rights, managed to get a sense of its scope. Of the more than 500 writers they surveyed, one in six said they had avoided writing or speaking about a certain topic, and almost one in four reported that they had self-censored via e-mail or on the phone.
In the survey, which was conducted online by the public opinion research firm the FDR Group, writers expressed wariness about researching and writing on national security, the Middle East, the drug wars, liberal organizing like the Occupy movement, and child abuse and child pornography. Sixteen percent of survey respondents said they refrained from conducting Internet searches or visiting websites on topics that may be considered controversial or suspect.
(Excerpt) Read more at america.aljazeera.com ...
Back in the ‘90s at least one FReeper got a visit from secret service because of something he said about Clinton. (Can’t remember any more details.)
The New (old) Liberal Fascism...,
Anyone that dares to print anything that doesn’t meet the approved Administration/OFA/MediaMatters memes gets punished.
These people don’t want careers ended because they dared to say something politically-incorrect, as defined by the Radicals in Media and DC.
It was like that in 1930’s Germany, too.
Dare to print the wrong thing, that the government finds offensive and impolitic, and find your offices burned, your family threatened, and a late-night knock on the door.
how soon until it comes to that?
Dunno. Ask Hastings, Brietbart or Bridges.
In before the redacted posts!
They start with the IRS and then it gets worse.
THIS is the terrorization of America ... we've gone from arrogantly free to whimperingly enslaved and only a few dare challenge the fictitious power of control
It’s OK because it’s surveillance for the Lightworker.
If there’s ever another Republican president, it will become the worst crime in the history of humanity, and the very fact that it was allowed to happen will be used to discredit the entire concept of the United States.
Those who rule thru intimidation and fear are no better than those that say they protect us against our ‘enemies’ by doing so themselves.
Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
The last few months prove that beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Nut-job Conspiracy Theory Ping!
To get onto The Nut-job Conspiracy Theory Ping List you must threaten to report me to the Mods if I don't add you to the list...
?????
Bloggers too ?????
Y’think!
;)
Semper Watching!
***
Dick.G: AMERICAN!
*****
Not to say that the government is not heavy handed, but if the government seeks revenge for public speech, THAT is the issue. It is independent of the government spying on private speech.
>>>or the number of Arab-Americans who avoid political topics via email<<<
Which is the real reason for Al Jazeera to print this story. The rest is just propagandistic drivel designed to push people towards the reduction of surveillance, thereby allowing the Religion of Peace to further their aim of creating an Islamic paradise on Earth for everyone except the Jews and other infidels who deserve death, torture, or subjugation.
Like all good propaganda, there’s an element of truth in here, I’m sure. I would think there are people unwilling to speak up out of fear of government reprisal. But I’m also considering the messenger.
The article was written by Claire Gordon, who from what I can find, is a complete liberal. That makes it all the more interesting.
Originally from London, Claire Gordon is a reporter covering labor, job market trends, and women’s issues. She’s based in New York City, and has contributed to AOL.com, Slate, The Daily Beast, and the book Prisons: Current Controversies. As an undergraduate, her Yale Daily News’ column earned her the distinguished title of Seventeen Magazine’s “Dorm Dating Expert”.... runner-up.
No, it said writers.
Bloggers don't count.
They would probably welcome NSA surveillance because it would mean more hits.
ah yes...comforting to remember that we have the more “conservative” souls of the world...the0’pinheads, etc. looking after the folks, things, etc...
;)
Semper Watching!
*****
A few weeks ago I had a very interesting conversation with Jack Lawson, one of the co-authors of “A Failure of Civility” (due to a problem with ordering I had left my phone # on the website and he called to straighten it out). He graciously spent some time in conversation with me, once I proved to be a kindred soul, I guess.
I told him “Those who are too chicken to speak out will be too chicken to act”. He liked that phrase and said he will use it.
Cowardice is the only reason this cabal is able to do what they’re doing. Many people standing up, shouting out, and being “refuseniks” is the way to stop this. And starting locally.
I’d be surprised if only ONE Freeper got a visit. Clintoon had just a few too many low-level ‘enemies’ who vanished or went toes-up.
BTW, on the subject of “child abuse and child pornography”, multiple people have been in trouble for ***cartoon depictions of non-human ‘children’.*** Zero-tolerance strikes again...I only wish I were making this up.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
