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Do you Blog or Blog Comment? Scary Stuff - Big Brother

by 4morereferrals
14 replies
This article sent chills and raised the hairs on the back of my neck.

This is not a jab at a particular US Administration - not fond of the current one but I also know the prior would likely have done the same or worse in this context!

If you blog or blog comment ... give this a view

MediaPost Publications Grand Jury Subpoenas Commenters' Personal Information From Newspaper 06/15/2009

When a Las Vegas newspaper ran an article about the upcoming tax evasion trial of local resident Robert Kahre, the piece drew dozens of comments from apparent sympathizers.


"IRS forcing a Federal Income Tax on a man's wages is illegal," wrote one.
"I have not filed in over 30 years," another boasted.



A third suggested that people should "organize protests at the courthouse."
Now, a federal grand jury has subpoenaed the names, phone numbers, IP addresses and other identifying information about every person who commented on the original article, which appeared in the May 26 edition of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. News of the subpoena was first reported last week by one of the paper's columnists, Thomas Mitchell.
#big #blog #brother #comment #scary #stuff
  • Profile picture of the author Johnathan
    Originally Posted by 4morereferrals View Post

    This article sent chills and raised the hairs on the back of my neck.

    This is not a jab at a particular US Administration - not fond of the current one but I also know the prior would likely have done the same or worse in this context!

    If you blog or blog comment ... give this a view

    MediaPost Publications Grand Jury Subpoenas Commenters' Personal Information From Newspaper 06/15/2009
    Yep, scary. Seems also like a good/great scare tactic for future (potential) posters. Even if nothing happens ('this' time) -- probably ppl who read this article will think twice about making a post in the future.
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  • Profile picture of the author Karen Keyes
    Why people think that they are "invisible" on the web is beyond me. I mean, for what purpose would you announce that you haven't filed taxes in 30 years?? That's just plain DUMB.
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    • Profile picture of the author LB
      Originally Posted by Karen Newton View Post

      Why people think that they are "invisible" on the web is beyond me. I mean, for what purpose would you announce that you haven't filed taxes in 30 years?? That's just plain DUMB.
      From the article:

      "There was no indication what they were looking for or what crime, if any, was being investigated, just a blanket subpoena for voluminous and detailed records on every private citizen who dared to speak about a federal tax case," Mitchell wrote.
      So in other words, they said "give us all your data". That's not how subpoenas or warrants are supposed to work. They are to be very specific limited to the specific investigation of a person or crime and this is to be laid out and approved before a judge will issue them.

      This is a very bad precedent. A few bad comments on a blog, even if illegal, does not allow the government to then request the data of every person who commented.
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  • Profile picture of the author JonathanBoettcher
    Careful... they might find you even here
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  • Profile picture of the author Karen Keyes
    I agree LB.. but I still stand by what I said. Really if you're going to break the law, it's not very intelligent to brag about it. It definitely does set a bad precedent though, I wonder if any of it will be used/ or hold up in the courts.
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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Carl Kelly
      Originally Posted by Karen Newton View Post

      I agree LB.. but I still stand by what I said. Really if you're going to break the law, it's not very intelligent to brag about it. It definitely does set a bad precedent though, I wonder if any of it will be used/ or hold up in the courts.
      First, it isn't resolved yet. It may end up being a non-issue because it is simply too broad.

      Second, you're right: posting "I haven't paid my taxes in 30 years" on that blog topic is like coming here and posting "I steal people's credit card numbers". You really should expect what happens next.

      But that isn't the case for the others who made innocent, opinion-based comments. Their information shouldn't need to be turned over for investigation... but I'm all for the information of the "I haven't paid in 30 years" guy to be looked at.
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    • Profile picture of the author ExRat
      Hi,

      Interesting story, thanks for highlighting it.

      This comment was interesting -

      "If it's come to trolling for anti-tax protesters on the Web, we should seriously question how the government is spending its money."
      I agree with the point being made in that statement. But it also appears to give the implication that we should only be seriously questioning them if that was the case. We (over here) and you (over there) should most definitely be doing this anyway, as a matter of course

      Regards,

      Anon
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      • Profile picture of the author John Taylor
        Originally Posted by ExRat View Post


        Regards,

        Anon
        Splorph!!



        John
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    • Profile picture of the author rmholla
      Originally Posted by Karen Newton View Post

      I agree LB.. but I still stand by what I said. Really if you're going to break the law, it's not very intelligent to brag about it. It definitely does set a bad precedent though, I wonder if any of it will be used/ or hold up in the courts.
      What law has he broken? Watch the documentary "Freedom to Fascism" (free online at google videos) - there is no law requiring us to pay the federal income tax.
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      • Profile picture of the author JonathanBoettcher
        Originally Posted by rmholla View Post

        What law has he broken? Watch the documentary "Freedom to Fascism" (free online at google videos) - there is no law requiring us to pay the federal income tax.
        But is there a law that requires you to file? There's a difference...
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        • Profile picture of the author Anthony Robinson
          Originally Posted by JonathanBoettcher View Post

          But is there a law that requires you to file? There's a difference...
          There was a guy a while back that wrote a book called "The Federal Mafia" and he purported that he hadn't paid taxes in 30 years. He filed a return every year, but claimed "exempt". So apparently you have to file, but paying taxes is not mandatory.



          ATTN GUBMENT TROLL: This statement is in no way a declaration of participation in, or affirmation of, the above stated action. By reading this, you release poster of any/all indemnification, subjugation, emaciation, ramification, implication, incarceration, or socialist nation.

          Translation: I pay my taxes, leave me alone.
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          • Profile picture of the author Kevin Riley
            Whether the guy who stated he hadn't paid taxes for 30 years or not, it's this that is ominous:

            Now, a federal grand jury has subpoenaed the names, phone numbers, IP addresses and other identifying information about every person who commented on the original article, which appeared in the May 26 edition of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
            Being on the outside, looking in, I've watched the US government become more and more of a scary Big Brother regime - much like the very things they fought against in the Cold War. I always looked upon the US as a place that protected freedom of speech, but in the last decade or so this has become more and more of a lost right. I don't know how you Americans can stand it, and I feel for you each time I read something like this.
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            • Profile picture of the author The Expert
              I'm glad that the law is going after them. I mean...what if there was an article titled: "John James to get life in Prison for Killing Wife" and a bunch of people commented in saying that they felt bad for the guy.

              What if one of them said "I've been killing a few people a year for over thirty years."

              I doubt anyone would feel bad about the court going after the data if someone posted a comment like that...but because it's a tax issue and nobody likes paying taxes people get all chummy and stuff.
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  • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
    No sane person wants to mess with the U.S. I.R.S.

    I was surprised when Don King went one on one with them and won.

    Steer clear!

    TL
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