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 ...
Reminds me of an Ayn Rand quote...
Department Of Justice Uses Grand Jury Subpoena To Identify Anonymous Commenters on a Silk Road Post at Reason.com
Thanks, Slings and Arrows.
I guess it’s not outside the realm of possibility that they could answer that question for us all, now.
IF the DOJ gets away with this it will be the tip of the iceberg for the future silencing of dissent.
Sorry ‘bout the duplicate. Weird thing day here. :(
True. Well, if we’re going to ride the tiger, best to hold on firmly.
Whaaat???? I resemble that remark.
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.
Right after the Elonis decision was issued? Great timing there.
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.
“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.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
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.
Have you sent a cyber hug to your NSA snoop today?
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