"Internet firm owner tells of chagrin at FBI security letter" by Ellen Nakashima, Washington Post | August 15, 2010
WASHINGTON — “I’m having a hard time adjusting,’’ the Manhattan native said. “I’ve spent so much time never talking about it. It’s a weird feeling.’’
Civil liberties advocates hope that Nicholas Merrill’s case will inspire others who have received the FBI’s letters to come forward and inform the public debate on the proper scope of the government’s ability to demand private data from Internet and other companies for counterterrorism and intelligence investigations.
“One of the most dangerous and troubling things about the FBI’s national security letter powers is how much it has been shrouded in secrecy,’’ said Melissa Goodman, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union who helped Merrill sue the government in April 2004.
Yup, THEY can know EVERYTHING about YOU, but YOU can KNOW NOTHING about THEM!
Sig-frikkin'-heil!
The government has long contended, as it did in this case, that “secrecy is often essential to the successful conduct of counterterrorism and counterintelligence investigations’’ and that public disclosure of the receipt of a letter “may pose serious risks.’’ “The FBI needs the ability to protect investigations, sources, and methods,’’ said Mike Kortan, an FBI spokesman....
Yeah, especially when they are the PROVOCATEURS setting up PATSIES!
The FBI issued more than 192,500 letters, an average of almost 50,000 a year, between 2003 and 2006.
If you do the math that is about 137 letters a DAY, folks!
Who knew there were so many "terrorists" inside AmeriKa, huh?
The Justice Department inspector general faulted the bureau in 2007 for failing to adequately justify the issuance of such letters, though progress has been made in cleaning up the process....
Yeah, so GO BACK to sleep and don't mind that rustling through your mailbox, Americans!
It is just the FBI on a FISHING EXPEDITION!
Related: Obama Wants to Read Your E-Mail
I don't think he wants to read any of mine.
