Police seize computers of Gizmodo Editor - the site that had the iPhone

[blogslut]

http://gizmodo.com/5524843/police-seize-jason-chens-computers

Last Friday night, California's Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team entered editor Jason Chen's home without him present, seizing four computers and two servers. They did so using a warrant by Judge of Superior Court of San Mateo. According to Gaby Darbyshire, COO of Gawker Media LLC, the search warrant to remove these computers was invalid under section 1524(g) of the California Penal Code...

Docs and comments at the link

[Dappleganger]

1. What is that, the iGadget SWAT Team?? nt

[MUAD_DIB]

2. Possibly more like some rule of law thing.

[Dogmudgeon]

3. Ah, using the police to enforce an Executive's whim!

Think Different.

Or Else.

Well, it won't have been the first time Apple has used legal barratry to enforce corporate will.

--d!

[MUAD_DIB]

5. I'm not sure about California law, but isn't there a clause in there about

knowingly dealing in lost personal/company belongings that do not belong to you?

For the sake of argument, let's say that you leave your car at the side of the road; while mistakenly leaving your keys in it with the doors open.

Now if I come upon your car, with the keys inside, is it my right to drive off with it then take it apart and let others put up the info of that action on the intertnets?

I believe that not only would It be morally wrong but also it would also be committing an illegal act.


Does freedom of the press include theft?

No?

[panzerfaust]

4. Possibly: The Apple Touchy-Feely thing in action?

[MUAD_DIB]

6. Would you want your property returned to you?

Yes or no?

[panzerfaust]

8. They already have it back.

Would you want someone to kick your door down and seize your computer?

Even as someone as lovable as Mr Apple?

Yes or No...

[MUAD_DIB]

9. I would hope that I was in not in violation of the law.

[The Straight Story]

7. Some poor family has something stolen and lucky if police do anything

It takes money to get justice, or to get out of it.

[MUAD_DIB]

10. The difference is if the stolen object winds up on somebody's website.

[MrCoffee]

11. The Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team is a real thing?

Say what now?

[Silent3]

12. Seizure of computers, the way it's typically done, is bullshit.

It's punishment without the fuss and bother of proving a person guilty.

If this was really about evidence, the police could simply come in, copy everything from all of your hard drives, and leave. If that's too hard or too time consuming to do in a person's home, they could take the stuff, copy the data back at police headquarters, and return the equipment after a few days.

There's absolutely no reason to hold on to the physical hardware apart from punishment without trial, and/or future financial gain from selling the seized equipment at auction.