bill of rights

Shield Law Defines Journalism So That It Leaves Out Wikileaks & Bloggers

"The new amendment, brokered by Sen. Chuck Schumer, significantly expands on that definition. Now, a journalist would be defined as someone employed by or in contract with a media outlet for at least one year within the last 20 years or three months within the last five years; someone with a substantial track record of freelancing in the last five years; or a student journalist. In addition, the law would protect a person deemed appropriate by a federal judge, so long as their newsgathering practices have been consistent with the law." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingShield Law Defines Journalism So That It Leaves Out Wikileaks & Bloggers

Government consumer credit card data-mining program challenged

"Consumer Financial Protection Bureau officials are seeking to monitor four out of every five U.S. consumer credit card transactions this year — up to 42 billion transactions – through a controversial data-mining program, according to documents obtained by the Washington Examiner. In addition, CFPB officials hope to monitor up to 95 percent of all mortgage transactions, according to the planning document. CFPB Director Richard Cordray defended the data-mining practice and said his agency is monitoring credit card usage at 110 banks, including Morgan Chase, Bank of America, Capital One, Discover and American Express." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGovernment consumer credit card data-mining program challenged

Secret terrorism court orders declassification of its own rulings

"Court cases before the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court — the court that reviews requests by the NSA to wiretap suspected terrorists’ communications — are generally classified. But Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court ordered the government to review the court’s opinions on the meaning, scope, and constitutionality of Section 215 of the Patriot Act, which authorizes the government to obtain 'any tangible things' relevant to foreign-intelligence or terrorism investigations. Section 215 is the legal basis the NSA claims legitimizes its mass phone records collection program." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSecret terrorism court orders declassification of its own rulings

NSA chief Clapper: Data spying debate ‘probably needed to happen’

"'As loathe as I am to give any credit for what’s happened here, which is egregious…' said National Intelligence Director James Clapper, 'I think it’s clear that some of the conversations that this has generated, some of the debate… actually probably needed to happen.' Clapper, speaking at a conference in Washington, said the public discussion examining the balance between spying powers and privacy rights 'perhaps' should have taken place earlier. 'So if there’s a good side to this, maybe that’s it,' he said of the Snowden media leaks. His comments were the first time a senior US intelligence figure had portrayed the leaks as sparking a useful debate." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNSA chief Clapper: Data spying debate ‘probably needed to happen’

Senator on journalists who publish leaks: ‘Historically, spies have been shot’

"In a contentious Senate panel hearing about what protections should be available to journalists who receive government secrets, Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions (R) said that 'historically, spies have been shot for revealing information,' and that the thinking on a shield law for journalists should proceed forth from that point. Earlier this year, journalists and editors working for the Associated Press found out that the Department of Justice had tapped and recorded their phone calls for more than two months. The Justice Department also used warrants to obtain the emails of reporter James Rosen. In each case, the government maintained that it was attempting to police its internal workings for leakers." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSenator on journalists who publish leaks: ‘Historically, spies have been shot’

“Privacy” Held Hostage By “Security” – Public Unimpressed

"Since Sept. 11, our government has acted as if security and privacy were an either/or proposition. In other words, an increase in one causes a decrease in the other. Like a seesaw, if one side goes up, the other side must go down. As federal security consultant Ed Giorgio stated several years ago in a widely quoted New Yorker article, 'Privacy and security are a zero-sum game.' Apparently, in order to be more 'secure,' we must accept less 'privacy.' That includes allowing increased warrantless surveillance and scrutiny by the government. So is the government’s argument sound?" Continue reading →

Continue Reading“Privacy” Held Hostage By “Security” – Public Unimpressed

Two Huge Victories in Colorado for the Second Amendment

"Even though there had never been a successful recall in Colorado history, and even though advocates of gun rights were targeting Senators in two districts that voted overwhelmingly for Obama, and even though the statists had a huge money advantage, what mattered most was that voters did not want their gun rights eroded by politicians. Polling data shows the American people would engage in massive civil disobedience if politicians tried to ban guns. But it’s also comforting that voters also are willing to overcome heavy odds to knock off politicians who push for any type of gun control." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTwo Huge Victories in Colorado for the Second Amendment

Drug-Sniffing Dogs Pose a Problem in States That Legalized Marijuana

"Police in Tacoma, Wash., aren’t ready to retire their four-footed marijuana sniffers. 'There are several instances where marijuana is still illegal,' says officer Loretta Cool. 'If you are under 21, you cannot possess marijuana. If you have more than an ounce, it’s illegal.' But half an hour north in Seattle, police have stopped teaching drug dogs to recognize pot. 'There’s constant training to make sure their sniffers are up to snuff, where we use real drugs from evidence and a dog is rewarded for sniffing it out,' says Sergeant Sean Whitcomb, a spokesman for the Seattle Police Department. 'Marijuana is not something they are training on—that skill is no longer being reinforced.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDrug-Sniffing Dogs Pose a Problem in States That Legalized Marijuana

Private Plane Pilots Face Warrantless Drug Searches

"Private plane pilots, especially those traveling to or through states with relaxed marijuana laws, are being subjected to warrantless searches by state and federal law enforcement, the Toledo Blade reported Monday. 'None of the stops resulted in anything being found,' said Steve Hedges, a spokesman for the owners and pilots association. 'In most cases, the pilots were stopped and held while their planes were searched… I'm told one pilot was asleep in a motel room with his wife when agents kicked the door down and took them back out to the airport to search his plane, only to find nothing there.' The pilots' group has filed Freedom of Information Act requests for documentation justifying the searches." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPrivate Plane Pilots Face Warrantless Drug Searches