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Department Of Justice Uses Grand Jury Subpoena To Identify Anonymous Commenters...at Reason.com
Popehat ^ | June 8, 2015 | Ken White

Posted on 06/08/2015 5:26:46 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows

The United States Department of Justice is using federal grand jury subpoenas to identify anonymous commenters engaged in typical internet bluster and hyperbole in connection with the Silk Road prosecution. DOJ is targeting Reason.com, a leading libertarian website whose clever writing is eclipsed only by the blowhard stupidity of its commenting peanut gallery.

Why is the government using its vast power to identify these obnoxious asshats, and not the other tens of thousands who plague the internet?

Because these twerps mouthed off about a judge.

Last week, a source provided me with a federal grand jury subpoena. The subpoena1, issued by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, is directed to Reason.com in Washington, D.C.. The subpoena commands Reason to provide the grand jury "any and all identifying information"2 Reason has about participants in what the subpoena calls a "chat."

(Excerpt) Read more at popehat.com ...


TOPICS: Government; Politics
KEYWORDS: anonymouscommenters; doj; internet; subpoena
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To: Cboldt
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.)

Reminds me of an Ayn Rand quote...

21 posted on 06/08/2015 5:59:13 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows (My music: http://www.hopalongginsberg.com/ | Facebook ID: Hopalong Ginsberg)
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To: Slings and Arrows; Old Sarge; EnigmaticAnomaly; Califreak; kalee; TWhiteBear; freeangel; ...

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

Thanks, Slings and Arrows.

22 posted on 06/08/2015 5:59:38 PM PDT by LucyT
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To: Slings and Arrows; shibumi

I guess it’s not outside the realm of possibility that they could answer that question for us all, now.


23 posted on 06/08/2015 6:02:42 PM PDT by Salamander (Vested Subhuman)
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To: Slings and Arrows

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


24 posted on 06/08/2015 6:03:08 PM PDT by rockinqsranch ((Dems, Libs, Socialists, call 'em what you will. They ALL have fairies livin' in their trees.))
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To: rockinqsranch

Sorry ‘bout the duplicate. Weird thing day here. :(


25 posted on 06/08/2015 6:04:24 PM PDT by rockinqsranch ((Dems, Libs, Socialists, call 'em what you will. They ALL have fairies livin' in their trees.))
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To: Salamander

True. Well, if we’re going to ride the tiger, best to hold on firmly.


26 posted on 06/08/2015 6:39:13 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows (My music: http://www.hopalongginsberg.com/ | Facebook ID: Hopalong Ginsberg)
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To: bigbob
not that there are any obnoxious asshats on FR...

Whaaat???? I resemble that remark.


27 posted on 06/08/2015 6:46:05 PM PDT by Bullish (Not even a smidgeon of integrity or sanity in this whitehouse.)
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To: Slings and Arrows

That’s why I never post in the comments on any newspapers, especially those owned by Advance. Even their reporters have access to any and all info on commenters.


28 posted on 06/08/2015 6:51:39 PM PDT by Bodleian_Girl (Hey! That reminds me of a song.")
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To: Slings and Arrows

Right after the Elonis decision was issued? Great timing there.


29 posted on 06/08/2015 7:41:28 PM PDT by GrootheWanderer
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To: Slings and Arrows
Why is the government using its vast power to identify these obnoxious asshats, and not the other tens of thousands who plague the internet?

That is a disturbing thought from the author. The government shouldn't be going after anybody engaging in discourse on the internet unless they are plotting nefarious deeds and only then with an appropriate warrant. This is a very slippery slope. Oblather is happy to push us down it, too.

30 posted on 06/08/2015 7:49:28 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do not, no explanation is possible)
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To: Slings and Arrows

“Common Sense” was published anonymously by Thomas Paine.

It is the dream of every tyrannical government that it be able to root out anonymous critics and punish them, which is to say kill them, imprision them, etc.

That ability to criticize a government anonymously is the only protection the people have against a tyrant. A government that forbids criticism is a government which is hellbent on preserving its own power, public be damned.


31 posted on 06/08/2015 8:21:22 PM PDT by Flick Lives ("I can't believe it's not Fascism!")
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To: Bobalu

Thank you, thank you, thank you!


32 posted on 06/09/2015 12:07:15 AM PDT by chit*chat
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To: Flick Lives

Just the thought that the alphabet agencies might come calling will suppress free speech. Based upon what is in this article, discussions of the tree of liberty and changing the government might get the commenter a visit.


33 posted on 06/09/2015 3:24:07 AM PDT by Truth29
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To: Slings and Arrows

Have you sent a cyber hug to your NSA snoop today?


34 posted on 06/09/2015 7:51:52 AM PDT by bgill (CDC site, "we still do not know exactly how people are infected with Ebola")
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