FBI Causes Problems for Web Hoster
from the free-speech-craziness dept
The FBI asked a one-man hosting company to remove a video from its servers. The one man complied as he couldn't afford the legal costs that might have come otherwise. And, now he's running into all sorts of problems as privacy advocates are ripping his head off. For a story of privacy advocates gone insane click the above. While the FBI was originally at fault in this case, the privacy advocates came down a bit too strongly without knowing the facts; a problem that happens way too often on the web.
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Tough case...
On the other hand, the damage was fairly small, since he put the site up again after he found out what the facts of the matter were, and his client wasn't too upset about it. Though, if his client had been a touchy political organization, there would have been all hell to pay, and he would definately have been out one client, and maybe out of business.
I agree that the overall villian was definately the FBI. That they're doing this kind of shit with seeming impunity is absolutely chilling. I'd like to see the press pick this one up and send it to the masses. I mean, what if a publisher decided not to publish say THE SATANIC VERSES because an FBI agant lied to them and told them their corporation's board of trustees had already voted against it? It would be a headline event. I definately want to find out the name of the FBI agent(s) who did this, and frankly I want to read about pink slips.
Jon
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Re: Tough case...
I am a web host provider and I will pull out any site and or content hosted at my servers if the FBI requests it with or without any search warrant; its even on my TOS...
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