Category «Civil Liberties»

Range of Groups Dissatisfied With Patriot Act Reauthorization

Follow-up to Agreement Reached on Patriot Act Reauthorization: Cave-in on the Patriot Act, New York Times Editorial, February 12, 2006 (via International Herald Tribune) NPR – Librarians Wary of Patriot Act’s Implications: All Things Considered, February 11, 2006 · “Michael Gorman, head of the American Library Association, and librarian Joan Airoldi offer Debbie Elliott their …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Congress, Legislation, Libraries, Patriot Act, Privacy

Net Censorship Abroad – Free Speech Colides With E-commerce?

Follow-up to February 2, 2006 posting, Hearing Focuses on Internet Censorship in China, this WSJ free feature today: Internet Censorship – Web Firms Face Grilling on China. Related news: New York Times, So Long, Dalai Lama: Google Adapts to China – “Google’s local staff works closely with Chinese officials to ensure that search results from …

Subjects: Censorship, Civil Liberties, E-Commerce, Free Speech, Internet, Privacy

Feds Aggressively Pursue Leak of Domestic Spying Info to Public

New York Times, Inquiry Into Wiretapping Article Widens: “Federal agents have interviewed officials at several of the country’s law enforcement and national security agencies in a rapidly expanding criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding a New York Times article published in December that disclosed the existence of a highly classified domestic eavesdropping program, according to …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Government Documents, Privacy

Agreement Reached on Patriot Act Reauthorization

Press release: “Republican Senators John Sununu (R-NH), Larry Craig (R-ID), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Chuck Hagel (R-NE) (on 2/9) announced they have reached agreement with the White House regarding the reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT Act. The package includes modifications to the Conference Report in three specific areas to better protect civil liberties while still …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Congress, Internet, Legislation, Libraries, Patriot Act, Privacy

Survey on Spy Program Reflects Public Concern With Constitutional Freedoms

ABA press release: “According to a poll commissioned by the American Bar Association and released today, 52 percent of respondents said that in the fight against terrorism, the President of the United States alone cannot suspend constitutional freedoms, with an additional 25 percent saying he must obtain authorization by a court of law or Congress. …

Subjects: Civil Liberties

Tainted Warrants Used in Spy Program?

Yesterday’s posting, Judiciary Cmte. Requests Extensive Info On Domestic Spying Program From Attorney General, relied heavily on links to the Washington Post, and for good reason. The newspaper’s investigative reporting on the domestic spying issue has been picking up steam, with yet another must read article in today’s issue, Secret Court’s Judges Were Warned About …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Courts, Government Documents, Patriot Act, Privacy

Judiciary Cmte. Requests Extensive Info On Domestic Spying Program From Attorney General

Following up on AG Gonzales Testimony to Judiciary Cmte. Generates Strong Response, news today about Congressional requests for additional information on the NSA spy program: Press release: “House Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-Wis.) today sent a Judiciary Committee oversight letter to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales requesting extensive answers about the National Security …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Congress, Courts, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Patriot Act, Privacy

AG Gonzales Testimony to Judiciary Cmte. Generates Strong Response

Follow-up to yesterday’s posting, AG Alberto R. Gonzales Testifies Before Senate Judiciary Cmte. Today, the following transcript of the AG’s answers to Sen. Specter’s questions (11 pages, PDF), via CDT. Related references: New York Times: Republican Who Oversees N.S.A. Calls for Wiretap Inquiry Posting by Sen. Russ Feingold in response to AG Gonzales testimony Editor …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Congress, Government Documents, Legal Research, Legislation