Re: [privacy] Feds Drop Bomb on EFF Lawsuit

["Dude VanWinkle" <dudevanwinkle () gmail com>]

On 4/28/06, Fergie <fergdawg () netzero net> wrote:
> Ryan Singel writes over on the new '27B Stroke 6' blog:
>
> [snip]
>
> The federal government intends to invoke the rarely used "State Secrets Privilege" -- the legal equivalent of a 
> nuclear bomb -- in the Electronic Frontier Foundation's class action lawsuit against AT&T that alleges the telecom 
> collaborated with the government's secret spying on American citizens.
>
> The State Secrets Privilege is a vestige from English common law that lets the executive branch step into a civil 
> lawsuit and have it dismissed if the case might reveal information that puts national security at risk.
>
> Today's assertion severely darkens the prospects of the EFF's lawsuit, which the organization had hoped would shine 
> light on the extent of the Bush Administration's admitted warrantless spying on Americans.
>
> The government is not admitting, however, that AT&T aided the National Security Agency in spying on American's phone 
> calls and internet communications.
>
> [snip]
>
> I'd venture to say that they probably are, though.


Hmm, I guess "national security" is when the govt breaks the law eh?
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