Feds Cast a Wide Net: DOJ Subpoena Highlights (Not just Google, MSN, Yahoo)

Information Week ^ | Mar 30, 2006 | Information Week

[af_vet_rr]

The U.S. Department of Justice has gone far beyond Google, MSN, and AOL in its quest to justify the anti-pornography Child Online Protection Act: The DOJ actually subpoenaed at least 34 Internet service providers, search companies, and security software firms.

InformationWeek obtained copies of the subpoenas, replies, and other supporting documents through a Freedom of Information Act request.

(You can download the subpoenas here at Information Week)

[af_vet_rr]

Also, an article at SFGate.com (excerpt only, no repost):

The controversial Department of Justice inquiry that asked Google Inc. to turn over millions of Internet search queries is much broader than previously known, with subpoenas going to at least 34 companies, according to newly available public documents.

I thought this comment from the article was interesting: "There's a real question as to why the government didn't do all this fact finding first before enacting such a broad law that imposes severe criminal and civil sanctions."

[af_vet_rr]

I can tell you why they didn't do their fact-finding first, and why they are trying to force private companies to make their case - it was dreamed up under Clinton, and for whatever reason, the current DOJ is trying to still hobble it together, even after it failed the legal test.

[xarmydog]

Whenever big brother wants'info'using the guise of protecting the children,we need to be wary.Very wary.

[af_vet_rr]

Whenever big brother wants'info'using the guise of protecting the children,we need to be wary.Very wary.

The fact that the DOJ is pursuing private companies for information to make their own case, when they could have hired a bunch of college interns, give them computers and various firewall, anti-virus and child protection/filtering software, and have them use the various search engines, ISPs, etc., it really makes you wonder what they are after.

The only difference between an intern sitting down at a computer and using Google/Yahoo/MSN, or installing some filtering software and then using those search engines, is that they can't get data on actual people if they go after these companies.

The fact that they are trying to revive a failed Clinton-era project rather than developing their own draft/groundwork for a new law really makes you wonder.

Like one of the articles said, all of the money the DOJ has spent pursuing this and will continue to spend on this, could have easily bought filtering software for all concerned parents in the US.

[xarmydog]

Anything that has a Clintoon signature is suspicious.They sold out our country as far as I am concerned.Power has a way to infect the way certain people do business.Disgust is a pleasant way to put it.Our children will pay later for their decisions.Bush has really been a disappointment as far as immigration.When they go after info,it makes me wonder what is next.I have no doubts that even the communications on this forum are being monitored.