Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Verizon: Disclosure To NSA Is Free Speech

In a virtuoso application of twisted reasoning, Verizon's lawyers are asking that the entire case against them (for disclosure of customer phone records to the NSA) be thrown out on free speech grounds. As reported by Ars Technica,
"Communicating facts to the government is protected petitioning activity," says the response, even when the communication of those facts would normally be illegal or would violate a company's owner promises to its customers. Verizon argues that, if the EFF and other groups have concerns about customer call records, the only proper remedy "is to impose restrictions on the government, not on the speaker's right to communicate."
So Verizon is arguing that it has the First Amendment right to illegally turn over information to the government? And if we don't like it, we should restrict the government? Well I got news for you, Skippy - the government was restricted and violated the law with your help.

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