According to the Mercury News, the Bush administration is asking for a court order to get Google open their database of search records to Federal inspection. The reason given? The government is trying to show a pattern of searches for pornography in an attempt to prove Child Online Protection Act is the only way to protect children from sexual ( Read more... )

Back in the early nineties BW (Before Web) there was a general belief that the National Security Agency (NSA) was monitoring email and Usenet posts. (Remember Usenet? If you don't remember think Google Groups, because that is actually Usenet with a Googley front-end.) The story went that the NSA was building a database of email addresses by looking ( Read more... )

Yay!

Now, if we can just manage to drive a stake through its heart. Not likely though, I predict its immanent return. Bigger and badder...

Michael Isikoff is reporting on two bills in Congress relaxing the rules on domestic spying:Citing in part the need for "greater latitude" in the war on terror, the Senate Intelligence Committee recently approved broad-ranging legislation that gives the Defense Department a long sought and potentially crucial waiver: it would permit its ( Read more... )

Someone should buy me one of these mugs printed with the Bill of Rights, which dissapears when the mug is filled with a hot liquid.

Well, actually its a joke about Harriet Miers explaining her approach to interpreting the Constitution. Somewhat along the lines of 'The Aristocrats'. (Wikipedia link.)

But I'm betting its not too far off the mark...

Lots of people are holding out at length today about how the Supreme court (take your pick) did the right thing for the copyright holders, totally blew it for innovation or cut the baby in half just right. Some of them even think the court simply punted the issue. But me, I'll go to the insiders for the insightful stuff ( Read more... )

Supreme Court says James who? Congress says we don't need no stinkin' warrants!

Kirsten at the Real ID Rebellion weblog got to wondering who was behind the unconstitutional backdoor legislation to limit our freedoms. The answer?

Well, big surprise, but follow the money. The list consists almost entirely of companies and trade organizations who will profit from it. It might also be a nice list of organizations you want to