Would it have been okay for the UK to detain Greenwald or Poitras themselves?

[BlueCheese]

I see a fair number of people suggesting that David Miranda was ferrying possibly classified information between Greenwald and Poitras, and this would make it acceptable for the UK authorities to detain him.

My question is, even if this were true, why would that make it okay? Suppose if it had been Greenwald himself or Poitras herself who had been traveling. Would it have been okay for the UK to detain them? Would this have been a legitimate use of government power, or would it have been an example of criminalizing journalism?

[The Magistrate]

1. It Is What They Could Expect To Happen, Sir, Crossing Many Borders

Note it was someone other than the principals making the run....

"I did what Custer should've, son --- I sent scouts."

[morningfog]

2. No. Not under a terrorism act. This is getting absurd.

[HooptieWagon]

3. Perfectly acceptable...

...in countries like Iran, Russia, and N Korea. ....and apparently for those authoritarian regimes and apologists who look to those countries as shining beacons on the hill.

[LordGlenconner]

9. Like Snowden?

Isn't he in Russia now?

[truebluegreen]

10. Why yes, yes he is...

since we stranded him there by revoking his passport while he was in transit.

[msanthrope]

4. Yes. If the detention of Miranda is legal, then Greenwald and Poitras detention would also be legal

as there is no 1st amendment exception to criminal acts in the UK or in the US.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

5. I do not agree with the detention of journalists.

Authorities are free to ask for a face to face where lawyers can be present. Get a search warrant if you want material.

I find it interesting he was detained in England instead of Germany -- England had the law in place to act as a fig leaf for this sort of thing, as well as the "close, personal relationship" with the US needed. Germany might be a little peeved at us right now and might have told the US to piss up a rope.

[msanthrope]

6. Germany probably did the surveillance for us. nt

[Egalitarian Thug]

7. All of this is perfectly normal in totalitarian states. n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. What you are asking is justification

For the actions of authoritarian states. The calculus is how big of a shit stir it's going to be. They miscalculated.

[truebluegreen]

11. Agree.

The administration seems to get more authoritarian and clueless / tone deaf on this issue every passing day.