British judge allows search of devices seized from David Miranda
LONDON British authorities can search for data harmful to national security on electronic equipment seized from the partner of a whistle-blowing journalist, but they are not allowed to copy, disclose or distribute any of the material, a judge ruled Thursday.
Scotland Yard now has seven days to determine whether a laptop computer, cellphone and other devices belonging to David Miranda contain anything that endangers national security or shows him to be involved in terrorism.
Miranda is the partner of American reporter Glenn Greenwald, whose stories for the Guardian on mass digital surveillance by the U.S. National Security Agency, based on documents leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, have embarrassed the Obama administration.
Mirandas equipment was confiscated after he was held and questioned for nine hours Sunday at Londons Heathrow Airport under sweeping anti-terrorist police powers. His detention has become a cause célèbre among civil-liberties and free-speech advocates, who accuse British officials of trying to intimidate and silence Greenwald by harassing his partner.
http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-britain-judge-david-miranda-snowden-20130822,0,6902907.story