Journalism
Our friends at Student Journalists in Virginia Need Strict Enforcement of Privacy Protection Act
OMLN's Spring Conference: Journalism's Digital Transition
Why Are Bloggers Still Sitting at the Kids' Table? The Popularity of Online News and the Federal Shield Law
Well, it turns out this Fortress Iceland? Probably Not.
Today, the The Catsouras Photos: Will a Family's Privacy Interest Impede Press Access?
Olympic Athletes Can Tweet to Their Hearts' Content
Rejoice, all ye Olympian fans, the International Olympic Committee ("IOC") has said that its athletes can use Twitter!
Denying Anti-SLAPP Coverage, Massachusetts High Court Draws Activist/Journalist Boundary
A ruling by the highest court in Massachusetts could impact the methods that activists use to advocate their causes, by setting a boundary between activism that is protected by the state's anti-SLAPP statute and factual reporting, which is not.
Wikileaks Needs Financial Help
I have a pet theory that perfect informational transparency would make the world a more civil place. Sure, it might be embarrassing to reveal our personal secrets and foibles to the world, but the tradeoff would be that you'd know when someone was talking out of both sides of their mouth. In such a world, maybe that senator wouldn't be quite so holier-than-thou when the public knows about Open Government Data Presents New Journalism Opportunities and Legal Challenges
It’s been a long time since a printed newspaper delivered to your doorstep or purchased on your way to work was Florida Court Restricts Reporter's Use of Laptop During Murder Trial
Will This Revolution Be YouTubed?
There are a couple of laws in California that the U.S. Supreme Court should consider before it announces tomorrow National Freedom of Information Coalition to Create FOI Litigation Fund With Help From Knight Foundation
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press OMLN Partners With Online News Association to Provide Legal Assistance to Independent Journalists
Is There a Mini Constitution in Sky Mall? How the TSA Forgets Citizens' Rights
In recent years, the American public seems to have fallen under the impression that providers and regulators of airline travel have extra-legal powers. These fictional powers typically mean that passengers can be United States v Indymedia.us
One of the Classic Blunders: Microsoft’s De-Listing Campaign Makes No Sense
Before the Thanksgiving holiday, Microsoft Citizen Media Law Project Launches Legal Assistance Network for Online Journalists
CMLP Gets Lectured
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Hears Oral Argument in Anti-SLAPP Case
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In January 2009, Kristina Clair received a grand jury subpoena issued upon application of the United States Attorney for the District of Indiana, Timothy M. Morrison. Ms. Clair is a Linux administrator living in Philadelphia who provides free server space for Indymedia.us, an independent news aggregation site with a left-of-center activist orientation.
The subpoena demanded "all IP traffic to and from www.indymedia.us" on June 25, 2008. It instructed Ms. Clair to "include IP addresses, times, and any other identifying information," including email addresses, telephone numbers, records of session times and durations, physical addresses, registered accounts, and financial information. The subpoena also prohibited Ms. Clair from disclosing "the existence of this request unless authorized by the Assistant U.S. Attorney."
Ms. Clair contacted the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which agreed to represent her. Kevin Bankston of EFF sent a letter to Doris L. Pryor, the Assistant United States Attorney on the case, explaining that Ms. Clair did not possess the information requested, objecting that the subpoena was not personally served on Ms. Clair, and arguing that disclosure of the requested information would require a court order under federal electronic privacy law. Further, the letter pointed out that grand jury secrecy requirements do not reach witnesses or prospective witnesses, and therefore the government had no basis to restrain Ms. Clair's speech about the existence of the subpoena.
U.S. Attorney Morrison replied 12 days letter with a one sentence letter informing Bankston that the subpoena had been withdrawn.