CHEVRON GRANTED ACCESS TO ACTIVISTS' PRIVATE INTERNET DATA

[kpete]

CHEVRON GRANTED ACCESS TO ACTIVISTS' PRIVATE INTERNET DATA

Published on Thursday, July 11, 2013 by Common Dreams
In 'Chilling' Ruling, Chevron Granted Access to Activists' Private Internet Data
"Sweeping" subpoena violates rights of those who spoke out against oil giant's devastating actions in Ecuador

- Lauren McCauley, staff writer



A federal judge has ruled to allow Chevron, through a subpoena to Microsoft, to collect the IP usage records and identity information for email accounts owned by over 100 environmental activists, journalists and attorneys.

The oil giant is demanding the records in an attempt to cull together a lawsuit which alleges that the company was the victim of a conspiracy in the $18.2 billion judgment against it for dumping 18.5 billion gallons of oil waste in the Ecuadorean Amazon, causing untold damage to the rainforest.

The "sweeping" subpoena was one of three issued to Google, Yahoo! and Microsoft.

"Environmental advocates have the right to speak anonymously and travel without their every move and association being exposed to Chevron," said Marcia Hofmann, Senior Staff Attorney with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, who—along with environmental rights group EarthRights International (ERI)—had filed a motion last fall to "quash" the subpoenas.



MORE:
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/07/11-3
http://dg5vd3ocj3r4t.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/documents/Kaplan-Order-Hotmail-IP-subpoena_0.pdf

[enough]

1. Worse and worse. (nt)

[Blackford]

2. I read a thread on this earlier today n/t

[msongs]

3. look over there...it's snowden nt

[randome]

4. A 'conspiracy'? How does that even factor into the crime?

A group of activists 'conspired' to force Chevron to admit to it? If Chevron gets its way, this may end up hurting them far more than helping.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Birds are territorial creatures.
The lyrics to the songbird's melodious trill go something like this:
"Stay out of my territory or I'll PECK YOUR GODDAMNED EYES OUT!"[/center][/font][hr]

[Arugula Latte]

5. This country is finished.

The end.

[elehhhhna]

6. WHAT. THE. FUCK.?

[Oilwellian]

7. How very...

Oilwellian.

[suffragette]

8. WTF?

Sweeping is correct, sweeping away people's rights.

[otohara]

9. In Gasland 2 The Oil Companies Called in Military Psyops

Speciaislts to help them deal with the activists... Call them insurgents was their advice and treat them as such.

[sabrina 1]

13. In the US, mayors across the country called in militarized Robo Cops to beat and arrest

Wall St. protesters nearly killing a few of them. Mayors from both parties.

[RainDog]

10. k&r n/t

[progressoid]

11. Ugh.

[reusrename]

12. The wheels are falling off.

I suspect this is just a public show of strength for intimidation purposes. They most likely already have access through some back channels. That's how they know just what to ask for.

[dickthegrouch]

14. Proof positive that these companies think they are the government

My take on it is that they are looking for anything embarrassing that they can hold over the activists to blackmail them into not pursuing any actions that Chevron might deem hostile. I hope it backfires massively.

[ohheckyeah]

15. What's the problem?

A judge said it's legal.

(Yes, that's sarcasm)

[WillyT]

16. Son Of A.....