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ICE Stalling On More FOIA Requests Concerning Domain Name Seizures

Politics

from the and-of-course dept

Wed, Jun 15th 2011 10:25am — Mike Masnick
We recently noted that Homeland Security's ICE group appeared to be stalling in responding to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request from Michael Robertson's NakedGovernment. It turns out that's not the only such request it's been stalling on. The folks over at Muckrock (who helped us with our own FOIA requests), alert us to the news that Aaron Swartz, the director of Demand Progress (the organization that the MPAA has been trying to smear with false accusations), filed a similar FOIA request at about the same time. There were apparently some issues with it, but those issues were resolved in February... and since then, not a peep out of ICE.
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Filed Under: dhs, domain seizures, foia, ice, stalling
Companies: demand progress

30 Comments

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  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 15 Jun 2011 @ 10:33am

    Uh, they're too busy fighting in the Bay of Pirates to really answer any questions. They're just trying to help succor our freedoms in the War on Kid Porn and Other Evildoers.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Qritiqal (profile), 15 Jun 2011 @ 12:08pm

      Re:

      Interesting wrong? word choice: succor instead of secure

      Succor means "relieve", so your comment reads:
      They're just trying to help "relieve us" of our freedoms in the War on Kid Porn and Other Evildoers.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 15 Jun 2011 @ 11:00am

    damn pirates and their boats made of theft ad CP. terrorizing innocent corporations who just want to have the monopoly their senate stooges promised them. any and all sympathizers are thieves and peado's.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    PrometheeFeu (profile), 15 Jun 2011 @ 11:27am

    Dare I say it? I do:

    They put the request on ICE.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 15 Jun 2011 @ 11:52am

    11th Commandment

    Thou shalt not question authority.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 15 Jun 2011 @ 11:55am

    Considering that these domain seizures are still in process at the legal level, I don't think there is much information.

    FOIA isn't meant to force the state to release information about areas which are part of ongoing criminal cases. It would be incredibly stupid to think otherwise.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Atkray (profile), 15 Jun 2011 @ 12:06pm

      Re:

      I which case the response would be blah blah blah ongoing investigation blah blah we thank you for your interest blah blah blah we are sorry we are unable to accommodate your request at this time.

      This is them just flat out ignoring legit requests.

      That isn't how FOIA is supposed to work.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Josh in CharlotteNC (profile), 15 Jun 2011 @ 12:14pm

      Re:

      which are part of ongoing criminal cases.

      Do you have a different definition of "ongoing" than the rest of the universe?

      An ongoing criminal case would imply either that criminal charges have been filed, or that an investigation is still underway.

      The first round of domain seizures was more than 6 months ago. Are they really still investigating those sites, because charges sure as heck haven't been filed.

      It would be incredibly stupid to think otherwise.

      It would be incredibly naive to think this is anything other than an attempt by ICE to hope the problem will just go away if they don't talk about it so they can keep on seizing sites at the behest of private interests without worrying about due process of law.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Hephaestus (profile), 15 Jun 2011 @ 12:57pm

        Re: Re:

        Actually they are attempting to extradite a bunch on UK citizens over this.

        [ link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 15 Jun 2011 @ 1:13pm

        Re: Re:

        Josh, the domain were seized per a warrant, and the warrant is likely attached to a larger criminal investigation and process. There is no legal requirement for them to show cause or move with charges unless someone pushes the issue. The case can stay open for years.

        [ link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 15 Jun 2011 @ 3:57pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          So when can we hear "mission accomplished"

          [ link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          Any Mouse (profile), 15 Jun 2011 @ 4:33pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          And THAT, dear readers, is what we've all been complaining about. They don't need to show cause or actually file charges, just get a judge's rubber stamp, and then let it mold away in the filing cabinet. What does this really accomplish, though? Other than pissing off a bunch of foreign nationals and making the United States look like more of a douche than Hitler's Third Reich?

          [ link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Anonymous Coward, 16 Jun 2011 @ 5:30am

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            Not at all. I think the government however is using the legal system within it's limits, and it's the people who were doing very questionable things that are just not showing up and going to court to ask the government to show cause, which would be their right.

            I think there are some here (including yourself) that are upset that the law doesn't move at internet speed. I think now you are starting to feel what the music and movie people have felt for years, that the speed of the court system is way to slow to deal with internet related issues.

            It really sucks when your side is suffering because of it, rather than winning because of it.

            [ link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              Josh in CharlotteNC (profile), 16 Jun 2011 @ 6:55am

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              There is no legal requirement for them to show cause or move with charges unless someone pushes the issue. The case can stay open for years.

              And you don't see this as a massive abuse of due process?

              You seem to have no problem with the government seizing a business under questionable interpretations of the law, giving the owners no recourse or information on who to talk to resolve it, and not filing charges for years.

              What if you were a lawyer and it was your firm they seized?

              that the speed of the court system is way to slow to deal with internet related issues.

              The. Government. Has. Not. Yet. Filed. Criminal. Charges.

              Other than the rubber-stamped warrant, and the just now filed lawsuit, the court system was not involved. So saying that it is too slow is disingenuous.

              I'm pissed off because the government is trampling people's rights at the behest of private corporations. If you want to give up your rights, you can, but you better expect those of us who care about them to resist in every manner possible.

              [ link to this | view in chronology ]

            • identicon
              Anonymous Coward, 16 Jun 2011 @ 7:35am

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              and it's the people who were doing very questionable things that are just not showing up and going to court to ask the government to show cause, which would be their right.

              Hah! That's rich! Taking the government to court requires a LOT more than just "showing up" and you know it. It requires quite a bit of money, too. So, unless you're offering to pay all of their legal expenses for them, I suggest you keep your dishonest claims to yourself, freaking industry troll.

              [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      DannyB (profile), 16 Jun 2011 @ 7:05am

      Re:

      > ongoing criminal cases

      Who are you kidding?

      Ongoing criminal cases would suggest some sort of due process.

      Due process would require the use of the courts, a complaint served upon the party accused, and a chance to be represented and respond.

      Nope. No "ongoing criminal case" here. Not even a "case". Do you have a docket number for this "case" ?

      Oh, I see. It must be classified. National security and terrorists, you know. Don't want them to learn state secrets.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 15 Jun 2011 @ 3:09pm

    How come no one noticed that it's the entire gov, not just ICE, acting this way?

    They make claims, offer no evidence or glimpse of information, and when challenged, simply ignore.

    And people think that suing them will change anything? It's a good lol. Who runs those courts? The same corrupt government making tons of propaganda campaigns, such as ICE, DHS, The US Army (not the brightest people out there those US Army people..., I have proof too) and then they expect to be taken seriously and wonder why they're hated everywhere in the world?

    Ah well... pointless to even write here, 90% of United-statesians that can't open their eyes to the oppressing regime in place in their own country.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Chris in Utah (profile), 15 Jun 2011 @ 4:45pm

      Re:

      Speaking about the 90% I just had a week long discussion with my mother via FB about the red herring/distraction debate on immigration after posting the a RTR news cast on the marine's honor parade. How it came up still blows my mind and the conversation stopped rather came to any meaningful conclusion.

      By the people & for it? ignore your surroundings at your peril.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]


When Citizens Elect Comedians Who Run For Office As A Joke...
Congress Happy To Knock Out Patents That Impact Financial Institutions... But Everyone Else?
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