Department Of Justice Uses Grand Jury Subpoena To Identify Anonymous Commenters...at Reason.com

Popehat ^ | June 8, 2015 | Ken White

[Slings and Arrows]

Full title: Department Of Justice Uses Grand Jury Subpoena To Identify Anonymous Commenters on a Silk Road Post at Reason.com

Yes, it's a long article and the author is a flaming lib, but this is a gross abuse of government power. "Punishment by process" comes to mind. Strongly suggest at least skimming the whole thing.

[Slings and Arrows]

Ping!

[proxy_user]

So, does Reason have any such information?

It is always better to be able to say, we’d like to help, but sorry, we don’t know.

[Paladin2]

[Slings and Arrows]

I agree. Sounds like a good reason for NOT keeping identifying info on commenters.

One of my reasons for posting this article was that if it could happen to Reason, it could happen to FR.

[relictele]

Most Reason.com commenters have their hearts in the right place but occasionally let their ‘no law is best law’ puritanism take them swiftly into abstract meandering arguments. They aren’t stupid ie unintelligent but they do lapse into dorm room oneupmanship too often.

[Salamander]

In a heart beat.

Question is, would those who keep our identities confidential go to jail, on principle?

[bigbob]

not that there are any obnoxious asshats on FR...

[apillar]

Well, on a positive note, since the Supreme court ruling last week in “Elonis v. US” all they have to say is their comments were just “streams of thought” or they were just trying to write a rap song...

[Nachum]

The list, Ping

Let me know if you would like to be on or off the ping list

http://www.nachumlist.com/

[Jet Jaguar]

Bump.

[Delta 21]

Bluster and hyperbole is what I do best!

Just ask. I’ll gladly let you know who I am and right where you can be found when I see you.

[Bobalu]

This is why it’s a good idea to use TOR when doing anything interesting on the net.

https://www.torproject.org/projects/torbrowser.html.en

[Moonman62]

Yes, it’s a long article and the author is a flaming lib, but this is a gross abuse of government power.

...

Have you seen the comments in question?

[Slings and Arrows]

Perish the thought!

[Slings and Arrows]

Good question.

[rockinqsranch]

IF the DOJ gets away with this it will be the tip of the iceberg for the future silencing of dissent.

[Slings and Arrows]

Yes. The author addressed their content.

[Slings and Arrows]

Yep.

[Cboldt]

"Popehat" writes well, and from the little bits of interaction I had with him (regarding the Ashton Lundsby "bomb threats for hire, to close schools" cae), I'd say is a straight shooter, not prone to hyperbole, etc.

I'm glad he is mocking the government - the government is mockworthy, and being a bully. Those are, I think, the only two things the government does well. screw-up, and bully people (to the point of ruin, if it can.)