Attorney General Eric Holder defended the seizure of Associated Press phone records in an investigation of leaks involving the CIA, saying that it was necessary to uphold national security. (The New York Times, May 14, 2013, by Charlie Savage and Scott Shane) But to insure that everyone believed their statements about the importance of free [...]
Appeal in free speech case over graphic abortion images
The Thomas Moore Society has filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a Colorado Supreme Court decision in a case in which an anti-abortion protester was ruled disruptive for displaying large photos of aborted fetuses near a Palm Sunday procession with about 200 children present. Some of the children were upset by [...]
Scandal over Bloomberg use of client data
Bloomberg News reporters were using the company’s financial data terminals to monitor login activity to gain an edge in covering market and trading news. Bloomberg editor-in-chief Matthew Winkler admitted the practice was long standing and apologized saying it was an inexcusable error. (The New York Times, May 13, 2013, by Amy Chozick) After JKMorganChase complained [...]
Justice Department seizes AP phone records
The Justice Department authorized a confiscation of phone records of Associated Press reporters and editors that many feel is an egregious attack on freedom of the press. The government’s action is thought to be part of an investigation into the leaking of information a year ago about a foiled Yemen-based plot to bomb an airliner. [...]
Dating imperiled by government speech mandate
The Departments of Justice and Education are ordering every U.S. college and university to enact speech codes that include restrictions on expression on sexual topics that offend any person; sexually themed jokes that are considered offensive; and requests for dates or flirtation not welcomed by the recipient.”…the Departments of Justice and Education have mandated a [...]
Feds request removal from Internet of 3D handgun designs
The State Department prevailed on Defense Distributed, a Texas nonprofit, to remove from the Internet designs for a pistol. State said the act of distributing these designs online violated federal law restricting transfer and access of data for designated weapons. (Courthouse News Service, May 13, 2013, by David Lee) The incident inspired a detailed blog [...]
Open data era for federal government holds great promise
President Barack Obama ordered a new Open Data Policy May 10 to make open data the new default for releasing information in the federal government. The order is expected to provide business and research concerns with data to spur innovation and enterprise. (E Pluribus Unum, May 10, 2013, by Alex Howard) While praising the order, [...]
Access to court documents argued in 9th Circuit
The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments on press access to courts this week with the California state court attorney asserting that the case belonged in state courts and attorneys for the press citing a Ninth Circuit ruling that a 48-hour delay in access to court documents violated the First Amendment. (Courthouse News [...]
Anonymous speech challenged in Massachusetts
The selectmen of Cohasset, Mass. are issuing subpoenas to uncover the identities of those, possibly town employees, using local newspaper websites to make anonymous comments including personal attacks. Writing for Media Nation, May 6, 2013, Dan Kennedy says that apart from libel, newspapers should not turn over the IP addresses so the town could punish [...]
Free speech threatened in California homeless dispute
A nonprofit serving the homeless in San Luis Obispo County is threatening to sue individuals testifying about mistreatment of their clients. The CalCoastNews published a series of articles about a homeless man who lost his disability benefits through alleged mismanagement by two agencies serving the homeless. (CalCoastNews, March 29, 2013, by CalCoastNews Staff) The director [...]
