Gov't Can't Hide EFF's Lawsuit Against AT&T Just Yet
from the but-there's-still-time dept
Both AT&T and the U.S. government have been working hard to get the EFF's lawsuit concerning passing info on to the NSA to disappear. However, their latest effort has failed, as a judge has refused a request to dismiss the case -- though AT&T can (and almost definitely will) still appeal. The judge's reasoning is interesting, claiming first that so much of the info concerning the case is already public, there's hardly an issue of secrecy. Of course, that may raise some questions about how that info became public. However, his second point is more interesting. AT&T's defense that they were "just following government orders" is not a valid one. That's something you would have thought was obvious these days, but it's nice to see it reinforced.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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Just following orders?
Uhhh..... did I say that out loud?
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Re: Just following orders?
No, but we can package it up and sent it around the 'net until you government high horses roll over and do another dog and pony trick.
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Re: Re: Just following orders?
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Re: Re: Re: Just following orders?
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Re: Are you QUITE done?
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Re:
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we call that long post; filibustering
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Re: we call that long post; filibustering
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Just Following Orders
He was an SS officer in charge of one of the death camps. His defense for the war crimes he was charged with?
"I was just following orders."
He was found guilty of his war crimes and hung from the neck until dead.
No, I'm not comparing AT&T to Nazis, and no I'm not comparing what AT&T did to what that Nazi officer did, so don't even go there.
The moral of the story? Following orders does not take away culpability in criminal acts.
Following orders does not remove one from culpability of criminal activity, even if they are orders from the government. What it does is make the follower of illegal orders issued by government, a party with the order giver, government, of criminal activity.
In other words, both AT&T and the government have committed crimes against the American People. We have every right to observe this case. Government must not be allowed to escape scrutiny by the People, and AT&T does not deserve special privilages or protections in court just because they were "only following orders."
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Re: Just Following Orders
Thank you sooo much for your support!
Sometimes I feel like I'm all alone fighting this battle to keep people from being suckered by governement, media, and corporations.
Yeah, we want to believe them but the sad truth is guilty until proven innocent.
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Also, whatever happened to this site? With all the BS 1st Post and 2nd Post crap and useless posting, it used to be nice to be able to talk about the topics.
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Re:
If you don't believe there is a concerted effort underway by corporate and other powerful interests to deprive us of any bit of secrecy, you need put down the PSP and read some news.
Yesterday, there was a discussion in the media of a new program for "fairer" use of congested roads using a small transmitting device in every car that will tell the "transportation authority" if you're using busy streets and will send you a bill accordingly. Sort of the Big Brother version of the quite sensible fee Londoners pay to drive downtown. The downside of course, as expressed by the tech-drunk host, was that someone "might" be able to know where you are all the time.
Oh, and I just got my new RFID passport.
You're goddamn right I'm paranoid.
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The mobile company said they could not divuldge that information without a court order.
The media had a field day with that story, headlines read "Sprint (I think it was Sprint, maybe not) refuses to help find kidnapped infant"
Dammed if you do, dammed if you don't.
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GAME OVER JUSTICE!
president bush has personally blocked the investigation
none of the prosecutions attorneys have any security clearance to investigate ANYTHING in this case.
that effectively cuts them off from making any progress and effectively protects bush and co to continue pissing on our constitutional rights
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Different Case
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Repeat that to everyone you know! Tell it to your Congressmen, Senators, Governors and Mayors!
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Makes me sad to know they are in such small numbers...
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