Greenwald: "Serious Escalation Of DOJ Efforts To Probe, Harass" WikiLeaks Contacts (Subpoena Link)

[Hissyspit]

http://mobile.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2011/01/07/twitter/index.html

Last night, Birgitta Jónsdóttir -- a former WikiLeaks volunteer and current member of the Icelandic Parliament -- announced (on Twitter) that she had been notified by Twitter that the DOJ had served a Subpoena demanding information "about all my tweets and more since November 1st 2009."  Several news outlets, including The Guardian, wrote about Jónsdóttir's announcement.   

What hasn't been reported is that the Subpoena served on Twitter -- which was ordered by a federal court -- seeks the same information for numerous other individuals currently or formerly associated with WikiLeaks, including Jacob Appelbaum, Rop Gongrijp, and Julian Assange.  It also seeks the same information for Bradley Manning and for WikiLeaks' Twitter account.

The information demanded by the DOJ is sweeping in scope.  It includes all mailing addresses and billing information known for the user, all connection records and session times, all IP addresses used to access Twitter, all known email accounts, as well as the "means and source of payment," including banking records and credit cards.  It seeks all of that information for the period beginning November 1, 2009 through the present.  A copy of the court-ordered Subpoena served on Twitter is HERE.

- snip -

I'll have much more on the implications of this tomorrow.  Suffice to say, this is a serious escalation of the DOJ's efforts to probe, harass and intimidate anyone having to do with WikiLeaks.  Previously, Appelbaum as well as Bradley Manning supporter David House -- both American citizens -- had their laptops and other electronic equipment seized at the border by Homeland Security agents when attempting to re-enter the U.S.

MORE

[EFerrari]

1. And on a Friday afternoon at that.

I guess this means all the other threats are handled.

[Ohio Joe]

2. I don't get it....

They want to see what has been broadcast to the world and thats a "Serious Escalation Of DOJ Efforts To Probe, Harass" ummm... how?

[sabrina 1]

5. They have been harassing other people connected to Wikileaks also

This woman is a member of Iceland's parliament. What right do they have to invade her privacy? Iceland supports Wikileaks, and for good reason. That is THEIR business, what business is it of Eric Holder? Doesn't he have some real crimes to be looking into, like the Bush administration's war crimes?

I hope this sparks outrage throughout Europe. No wonder the U.S. gets leaders of other countries to do what they want. We intimidate and threaten people now? I would expect if from Bush, but from this administration I thought we going to get 'change'. I guess they meant 'small change' because that's about what we are getting, literally.

[Ohio Joe]

7. Invade her privacy?

They are looking for what she tweeted to the world and the data to prove it was her. I fail to see an invasion of privacy or how this is harrasment.

[EFerrari]

8. How is the government entitled to the information she gave Twitter?

Or to search out her information for any reason at all except to investigate a crime?

This is obvious harassment.

[Ohio Joe]

9. ummm... The subpoena says it is for a criminal investigation

:shrug:

[frylock]

14. tweeting is now considered to be criminal activity?

[Ohio Joe]

16. I guess it depends on what you tweet

What has she tweeted? I have no idea what anyone tweets.

[EFerrari]

19. You're right. That is what it says. n/t

[Ohio Joe]

20. Just to clarify

I respect you and agree with an overwhelming amount of what you post. I also think that any investigation into Assange is bullshit and I hope (yeah, we will see how that goes) that the idea here is to make a big show and prove by legal means that no charges can be brought. The intent being to force the repugs to STFU... not that they would, they blabber on about bullshit all the time but... I do hope it is the intent.

[EFerrari]

23. You may have a point there. I hope you do.

:)

[sabrina 1]

22. Did you read the article? They are asking for 'more than my tweets'.

But aside from that, what right do they have to harass her at all? Would you be defending this if China asked twitter for a member of the U.S. Congress' twitter account information?

I truly cannot believe some of the things I see on DU these days.

[frylock]

10. did you not read the part about seizure of laptops?!

why do you suppose they want those fucking IPs? if the info they want access to was posted on a public forum, then what are they looking for on these computers? fuck. this. shit.

[Ohio Joe]

12. But that is for twitter

Not this woman's stuff but twitters.

[frylock]

15. read again..

all IP addresses used to access Twitter...

Previously, Appelbaum as well as Bradley Manning supporter David House -- both American citizens -- had their laptops and other electronic equipment seized at the border by Homeland Security agents when attempting to re-enter the U.S.

[Ohio Joe]

17. Separate issue

Has nothing to do with this subpoena. This is not asking for her laptop but rather twitters.

[sabrina 1]

21. What right does the U.S. government have to get personal

information on a citizen of Iceland who has broken no laws? In fact, on a member of Parliament? Why are you defending this? Do they even have jurisdiction there? Would the Chinese eg, have the right to ask for information on a member of our Congress from Twitter?

Iceland supports Wikileaks. That is not our business, is it? I can't believe anyone here would even try to defend this. It truly is an outrage. Worse than Bush. And this is the 'change' we were 'hoping' for? NOT ME. This is what we thought we were going to STOP.

I hope all Europeans get involved in this and stop it before it goes any further.

[Ohio Joe]

25. I don't know...

"What right does the U.S. government have to get personal information on a citizen of Iceland who has broken no laws?"

Has she in fact broken no laws? I don't know. Do you?

"Why are you defending this?"

I'm not defending it, I am saying it is not an invasion of her privacy. I do not know the purpose of getting this information, do you?

"Do they even have jurisdiction there?"

This is for twitter, not her. I do not even know where twitter is based, Do you? Do we have jurisdiction there? I don't know.

"Would the Chinese eg, have the right to ask for information on a member of our Congress from Twitter?"

I have no idea.

"Iceland supports Wikileaks. That is not our business, is it? I can't believe anyone here would even try to defend this. It truly is an outrage."

Sorry for your outrage.

"Worse than Bush. And this is the 'change' we were 'hoping' for? NOT ME. This is what we thought we were going to STOP."

Worse then bush... Where were you during the bush years? A legal subpoena for what was said to the world is worse then the bush crimes? Seriously? .... Seriously?

[sabrina 1]

32. So you're assuming that this woman must have done something

illegal, a respected member of Iceland's Parliament? Even though there is not a single reason to believe that? And if others share your assumption, even ask the question, then damage has already been done to her.

I assume the opposite. There is no reason to assume someone being harassed by this government has done anything at all, other than support Wikileaks.

No need to be sorry for my outrage, I am not alone by any means. In fact, I feel sorry for your lack of outrage, it is a lonely place to be in the civilized, democratic world.

As for her privacy, it IS being invaded. Would you consider it okay if some foreign government were to demand your account information from DU? That would include your ISP, your credit card info if you have donated, your PMs which may contain personal information. Why would a foreign government have a right to demand such information on you without stating the reasons why? And would just being a supporter of say, Greenpeace, be enough reason?

Do you not fear that these steps will lead to bigger steps towards totalitarianism if they are not stopped now?

There is no evidence that this woman has done anything other than support Wikileaks. And while this country is sliding fast into totalitarianism, there are still parts of the world where you are free to support a legal news organization even if some people don't like that organization.

I don't know where Twitter is based. It doesn't matter, it is where she is based that matters. She has nothing to do with this government and they should not be harassing her without saying why. They are making this country look like the old Soviet Union. To think I supported this, unwittingly.

[Ohio Joe]

37. I don't understand

A legal subpoena has been issued in a criminal investigation for information she put on the internet... ummm calling this totalitarianism is just a bit of an over reaction. No?

[Gravel Democrat]

34. Any guesses as to why our diplomats were tasked to retrieve DNA...

during their "service"?

"U.S. to diplomats: Swipe leaders’ DNA.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/tabatha-southey/us-to-diplomats-swipe-leaders-dna-diplomats-to-selves-whaaat/article1824772/

"It felt like an awkward career moment: U.S. State Department spokesman P. J. Crowley struggling to explain to some curious journalists why collecting fingerprints and DNA from America's enemies and allies and various prominent international figures (many in the United Nations, including Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon) doesn't make American diplomats spies.

"...“For this, I went to Harvard?” those diplomats probably thought. “I'm being sent on the diplomatic equivalent of a panty raid. I'm licensed to collect Putin mucus!” And also: “To what end am I collecting these fingerprints and DNA?”

Did the State Department seriously imagine it would catch a prominent world figure knocking over a 7-Eleven to fund his evil cause?..."

Perhaps the State Department imagines that it can "use" the DNA "collected" in such situations as Ms. Jónsdóttir presents...

Or maybe not, us hapless citizens shouldn't trouble our little minds with these complex questions.


"A REPUBLIC if you can keep it"-BF

[Ohio Joe]

35. What does this have to do with anything in this thread?

:shrug:

[frylock]

24. it goes beyond the "subpoena"

It includes all mailing addresses and billing information known for the user, all connection records and session times, all IP addresses used to access Twitter, all known email accounts, as well as the "means and source of payment," including banking records and credit cards.

[Ohio Joe]

26. Correct... and how much of that do you give to twitter when you sign up?

If it was not given to twitter, they cannot give it to the DoJ.

[frylock]

27. correct..

this is nothing short of trying to intimidate anyone that has any intention of aiding or even siding with wikileaks. this is NOT what i voted for, and i sure as shit have no intention of EVER of voting for it again, president palin be damned.

[Ohio Joe]

28. That is your choice

I will vote dem over staying home or voting repug every time.

[frylock]

30. i have no intention of staying home or voting republican..

and as far as throwing my vote away, it would appear that's exactly what i did in 2008.

[Ohio Joe]

36. ahh... third party vote....

Let me know how that turns out.

[frylock]

39. will do..

keep fuckin that chicken.

[sabrina 1]

3. But what happens if Wikileaks has millions of friends and supporters

and donors? They can't intimidate a Global army of supporters.

This really is shameful. I expect the left to be as outraged by this Administration doing this as they would be if Bush was the one in the WH. Is that too much to expect anymore?

And does this mean that if we donate to Bradley Manning and/or Wikileaks, we can expect the DOJ to demand our records from DU, Twitter or wherever else we are members of? This is truly not what I had in mind when I supported this president. This is what I thought we were working to end.

[glinda]

4. Ditto

[EFerrari]

6. Here's a thought --

wikileaks WikiLeaks
Note that we can assume Google & Facebook also have secret US government subpeonas. They make no comment. Did they fold?

[sabrina 1]

33. Yes, they probably do. Maybe we should ask them, publicly.

I like Twitter's statement letting them know they will be telling people when a subpoena is issued to them. I like that kind of transparency. All of them should have that policy, making it impossible for these intimating tactics to remain secret.

[AlabamaLibrul]

11. IOKIYAD seems to be all the rage these days

[frylock]

29. word up

[Amonester]

38. ++ (nt)

[frylock]

13. eric holder makes me long for the days of john ashcroft..

this guy is a fucking piece of shit.

[leftstreet]

18. +1

[EFerrari]

31. In his blog post, Rop Gonggrijp tells how Twitter notified him

after getting the subpoena unsealed and raises the question that other venues may be just handing over information without going through that process.

http://rop.gonggri.jp/?p=442