SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
"In just one example of the staggering overbreadth of the search warrant, it would require DreamHost to turn over the IP logs of all visitors to the site." (Photo: Gage Skidmore/flickr/cc)
In J20 Investigation, DOJ Overreaches Again. And Gets Taken to Court Again
We've already written about problems with the government's investigation into the J20 protests--a series of demonstrations on January 20, the day of President Trump's inauguration--which resulted in the arrest of hundreds of protesters.
Aug 15, 2017
We've already written about problems with the government's investigation into the J20 protests--a series of demonstrations on January 20, the day of President Trump's inauguration--which resulted in the arrest of hundreds of protesters.
But prosecutors in DC are still at it. And they're still using unconstitutional methods to pursue their investigation.
This time they served a search warrant on hosting provider DreamHost that would require the company to turn over essentially all information on a website it hosts, www.disruptj20.org--a site that was dedicated to organizing and planning the protest.
Did you click on that link? Well, that's apparently information the government wants to know. In just one example of the staggering overbreadth of the search warrant, it would require DreamHost to turn over the IP logs of all visitors to the site. Millions of visitors--activists, reporters, or you (if you clicked on the link)--would have records of their visits turned over to the government. The warrant also sought production of all emails associated with the account and unpublished content, like draft blog posts and photos.
No plausible explanation exists for a search warrant of this breadth, other than to cast a digital dragnet as broadly as possible. But the Fourth Amendment was designed to prohibit fishing expeditions like this. Those concerns are especially relevant here, where DOJ is investigating a website that served as a hub for the planning and exercise of First Amendment-protected activities.
DreamHost did the right thing: it stood up for its users. It offered the government a chance to narrow the scope of the warrant. And when the government refused, DreamHost went to court.
A hearing is scheduled for August 18, in Superior Court in Washington, D.C. EFF will continue to monitor the situation.
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It's never been this bad out there. And it's never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed, the threats we face are intensifying. We need your support now more than ever. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Will you donate now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Mark Rumold
Mark Rumold is a staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, working primarily on privacy, surveillance, government secrecy, and national security issues.
We've already written about problems with the government's investigation into the J20 protests--a series of demonstrations on January 20, the day of President Trump's inauguration--which resulted in the arrest of hundreds of protesters.
But prosecutors in DC are still at it. And they're still using unconstitutional methods to pursue their investigation.
This time they served a search warrant on hosting provider DreamHost that would require the company to turn over essentially all information on a website it hosts, www.disruptj20.org--a site that was dedicated to organizing and planning the protest.
Did you click on that link? Well, that's apparently information the government wants to know. In just one example of the staggering overbreadth of the search warrant, it would require DreamHost to turn over the IP logs of all visitors to the site. Millions of visitors--activists, reporters, or you (if you clicked on the link)--would have records of their visits turned over to the government. The warrant also sought production of all emails associated with the account and unpublished content, like draft blog posts and photos.
No plausible explanation exists for a search warrant of this breadth, other than to cast a digital dragnet as broadly as possible. But the Fourth Amendment was designed to prohibit fishing expeditions like this. Those concerns are especially relevant here, where DOJ is investigating a website that served as a hub for the planning and exercise of First Amendment-protected activities.
DreamHost did the right thing: it stood up for its users. It offered the government a chance to narrow the scope of the warrant. And when the government refused, DreamHost went to court.
A hearing is scheduled for August 18, in Superior Court in Washington, D.C. EFF will continue to monitor the situation.
Mark Rumold
Mark Rumold is a staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, working primarily on privacy, surveillance, government secrecy, and national security issues.
We've already written about problems with the government's investigation into the J20 protests--a series of demonstrations on January 20, the day of President Trump's inauguration--which resulted in the arrest of hundreds of protesters.
But prosecutors in DC are still at it. And they're still using unconstitutional methods to pursue their investigation.
This time they served a search warrant on hosting provider DreamHost that would require the company to turn over essentially all information on a website it hosts, www.disruptj20.org--a site that was dedicated to organizing and planning the protest.
Did you click on that link? Well, that's apparently information the government wants to know. In just one example of the staggering overbreadth of the search warrant, it would require DreamHost to turn over the IP logs of all visitors to the site. Millions of visitors--activists, reporters, or you (if you clicked on the link)--would have records of their visits turned over to the government. The warrant also sought production of all emails associated with the account and unpublished content, like draft blog posts and photos.
No plausible explanation exists for a search warrant of this breadth, other than to cast a digital dragnet as broadly as possible. But the Fourth Amendment was designed to prohibit fishing expeditions like this. Those concerns are especially relevant here, where DOJ is investigating a website that served as a hub for the planning and exercise of First Amendment-protected activities.
DreamHost did the right thing: it stood up for its users. It offered the government a chance to narrow the scope of the warrant. And when the government refused, DreamHost went to court.
A hearing is scheduled for August 18, in Superior Court in Washington, D.C. EFF will continue to monitor the situation.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.