Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2006 19:13:06 EDT
From: xcschild@aol.com
Reply-To: Net-Gold@yahoogroups.com
To: Net-Gold@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Net-Gold] US drops library gag order in Patriot Act dispute
The government has backed down in at least one battle over the Patriot Act
by dropping a gag order imposed on a library that refuses to reveal a reader's
borrowing habits.
The library, thought to be Connecticut, is resisting an FBI request to
produce the records of one of its patrons because the agency refuses to identify
the threat posed by the person.
The library sought to tell its story but was bound to secrecy under a former
provision of the Patriot Act, which was dropped when Congress renewed the
act this year.
The library's bid to identify itself received a boost when the Justice
Department wrote to a federal appeals court on March 29 explaining that "the FBI
has determined that it will not oppose that request."
The government had previously argued the FBI probe would be threatened if
the name of the library was disclosed.
The American Civil Liberties Union, which announced the development on
Wednesday, called it a victory in its campaign against what it considers a
government intrusion of privacy.
"This calls into question every time the government has relied on national
security to impose secrecy," said ACLU lawyer Ann Beeson. "The only reason to
gag our clients was to stifle their free speech rights in the debate over the
Patriot Act. The government flip-flop confirms our suspicions."
Once the necessary court procedures are complete, the ACLU plans to hold a
news conference to introduce the librarians.
_http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060412/pl_nm/security_libraries_dc_1_
(http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060412/pl_nm/security_libraries_dc_1)
OR
The entire article can be referenced at the above URL:
Sincerely,
Sue Fraser
xcschild@aol.com
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