Eastside man wins police Web site case (WA state -- but your rights online alert)

The King County Journal (Seattle WA) ^ | May 24, 2003 | AP

[Clint Williams]

SEATTLE -- A federal judge has struck down a state law designed to protect police personal information, effectively reviving a Mill Creek man's Web site that posted names, addresses and home phone numbers of police in Western Washington.

[Clint Williams]

Some time ago I became a bit concerned when a judge ruled that Megan's Law (publishing names, addresses, etc. online) could be applied after the fact because it wasn't a violation of the "constitutional right to privacy."

It was never clear to me that such a right actually existed, but now we seem to have such a right that protects abortions but no actual privacy. Go figure.

[Eala]

Interesting. I vaguely recall reading something about this a while back. Didn't the guy have some kind of run-in with the police, on charges that he later claimed were trumped up?

[coloradan]

It is difficult to figure how so-called "public" servants should have an expectation of privacy. You pay their salary, and they allegedly serve you. Having them hide behind nomex ski masks, and putting a tape over their badges, as BATF agents tend to do, puts some distance between what they do and the claim that they are public servants.

[watchin]

"constitutional right to privacy" ... a right that protects abortions but no actual privacy.

Interesting observation. What a mess we make when we use words for cover, rather than for communication.

[Chad Fairbanks]

However, I gotta draw the line at posting Social Security Numbers on the web - The names and such, fine, but when you post people's SSN's you are going too far, IMHO...

[coloradan]

Government agents are the ones requiring that we use SSNs for drivers licenses (available to any LEO just by asking), ham radio licenses, bank accounts, medical insurance cards, etc. Long gone are the days that my SSN is between me, the IRS (and, SSA), and my employer. The way I am required to give out this number for anything and everything these days, I won't shed a tear for public servants who have this number pubically disclosed.

[Fred Mertz]

Good comments. Of the few cops I know, most have their phone numbers unlisted for security/privacy purposes. Like you wrote, their identities should be subject to rules like the rest of us. They ain't above the law.