EFF Motion in AT&T Surveillance Case Draws Government's Eye

[struggle4progress]

DOJ Demands First Look at Documents It Claims Might Be Classified

San Francisco - The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) filed a motion for a preliminary injunction in its class-action lawsuit against AT&T today. However, much of the evidence that was to be included in the motion—as well as the legal arguments based on that evidence—was held back temporarily at the request of the Department of Justice (DOJ). While the government is not a party to the case, DOJ attorneys told EFF that even providing the evidence under seal to the court—a well-established procedure that prohibits public access and permits only the judge and the litigants to see the evidence—might not be sufficient security.

EFF's motion seeks to stop AT&T from violating the law and the privacy of its customers by disclosing to the government the contents of its customers' communications, as part of the National Security Agency's (NSA's) massive and illegal program to wiretap and data-mine Americans' communications. The motion was supported by a number of internal AT&T documents that the government now claims might include classified information.
<snip>

The NSA program came to light in December, when the New York Times reported that the President had authorized the agency to intercept telephone and Internet communications inside the United States without the authorization of any court. Over the ensuing weeks, it became clear that the NSA program has been intercepting and analyzing millions of Americans' communications, with the help of the country's largest phone and Internet companies, including AT&T. This surveillance is ongoing, and today's injunction motion seeks to stop the spying while the case is pending. <snip>

http://www.eff.org/news/archives/2006_03.php

[Trevelyan]

1. K&R Kudos to EFF esp. appreciated since the Dems left absolutely no doubt

that they have abandoned the American people, their one collegue with the courage to stand up and any claim that their high postition comes with any responsibility.

http://somd.com/news/headlines/articles/3521.shtml
http://socalfeingold.blogspot.com/2006/03/dear-senate-dems-are-you-listening.html

==Republicans release New Ad that Mischaracterizes Feingold's Censure Resolution

The nonpartisan, nonprofit, voter advocacy group FactCheck.org has revealed several falacies in a new Republican advertisement that takes aim at Senator Feingold and his resolution to censure President Bush for the illegal wire tapping of American Citizens. FactCheck.org monitors the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews, and news releases. Their goal is to apply the best practices of both journalism and scholarship, and to increase public knowledge and understanding.

The GOP radio ad accuses Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin of proposing to censure President Bush "for pursuing suspected members of al Qaeda," which isn't true. Feingold has stated he supports wiretapping suspected terrorists. His measure would censure Bush for ordering wiretaps on US soil without a court warrant, for failing to notify all members of the Senate and House intelligence committees, and for "efforts to mislead the American people" about the legality of the program.

The Republican National Committee (RNC) released the radio advertisement on March 21. The RNC would not disclose how much they spent on the ad, but an RNC spokesperson said the advertisement is scheduled to run for a week on Wisconsin radio stations.

The ad characterizes President Bush as "working to keep American families safe," while accusing Sen. Feingold of leading Democrats who are "working against . . . efforts to secure our country." The ad claims that "Feingold and other Democrats want to censure the President. Publicly reprimanding President Bush for pursuing suspected members of al Qaeda." That is a false characterization.

You can read the complete analysis of the ad, the copy of the ad itself and the respective references at the following FactCheck.org page:

http://factcheck.org/article381.html

[cinemaactivist]

2. Ahhh

You know, a few of my friends have told me how paranoid they are that their lines were tapped, and I just thought they were crazy. I'm beginning to believe that they are probably right.