Judge Orders Google To Comply With FBI's Warrantless NSL Requests 167
An anonymous reader writes "CNet reports that a U.S. District Court Judge has rejected Google's attempt to fight 19 National Security Letters, which are used by the FBI to gather information on users without a warrant. Quoting: 'The litigation taking place behind closed doors in Illston's courtroom — a closed-to-the-public hearing was held on May 10 — could set new ground rules curbing the FBI's warrantless access to information that Internet and other companies hold on behalf of their users. The FBI issued 192,499 of the demands from 2003 to 2006, and 97 percent of NSLs include a mandatory gag order. It wasn't a complete win for the Justice Department, however: Illston all but invited Google to try again, stressing that the company has only raised broad arguments, not ones "specific to the 19 NSLs at issue." She also reserved judgment on two of the 19 NSLs, saying she wanted the government to "provide further information" prior to making a decision.' This does not affect the Electronic Frontier Foundation's challenge to the constitutionality of the letters in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals."
Hmm ... (Score:5, Funny)
Putting the Constitution aside a moment ... oh, wait, they've already done that. Carry on citizen.
Re:What's the government's problem? (Score:4, Funny)
Yes, as a matter of fact. I am some kind of hippie. Are you going to investigate everyone who owns a Volkswagen now? I guess I shouldn't be giving them ideas...
Re:What's the government's problem? (Score:0, Funny)
Actually no, that's pretty typical. Hippies and liberals are pretty much immune to humor, unless it involves insulting George Bush, Michelle Bachmann, Anne Coulter, Sean Hannity, or NRA members - but only in ways that demonstrate how tolerant they are!