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Ashcroft lied. (I’m shocked. Shocked.)

Published 10/10/03

Filed under: Miscellaneous

Didn’t Herr Ashcroft’s Justice Department assure us that the USA PATRIOT Act would only be used to fight terrorism? That’s how I recall it. Cries (accurate cries) that it’s disgustingly un-American, a violation of privacy, and easily abused were brushed aside.

We were right. Ashcroft lied.

The government is now using the PATRIOT Act to demand notes from New York Times reporters as it tries to prosecute a hacker.

A hacker. Not a terrorist. Not even someone who was attacking government computers. (He broke into the Times system.)

So if anyone tries to tell you that the USA PATRIOT Act is about terrorism and not about violating Americans’ privacy, they’re not reading the news.

Read about the case here and here.

For a broader look at how the government is using the Act on people other than terrorists, read this.

The Fray

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