Ashcroft proposes vast new surveillance powers: on the proposed Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003.
A sweeping new anti-terrorism bill drafted by the Justice Department would dramatically increase government electronic surveillance and data collection abilities, and impose the first-ever federal criminal penalties for using encryption in the U.S.
See also: The Freedom of Information Center section on the Son of the Patriot Act
Judi Bari Home Page: documenting the career of an Earth First! activist who was disabled by a bombing in 1990 during a logging protest. She and a friend were quite publically investigated, but never charged, by both the Oakland police and FBI for planting the bomb underneath the driver's seat of their car. A few months ago, they won a civil rights lawsuit stemming from the investigation. Judi did not live to see the case play out.
The New War on Freedom: Gore Vidal on the alienation of unalienable rights. [via wood s lot]
John Perry Barlow on The crime of sharing and the thread to freedom of expression. [via also not found in nature]
Human Rights Watch's 2002 World Report warns that countries around the world are using the WoT as an opportunity to attack civil liberties.
Museum staff defends Secret Wars exhibit: on an FBI visit to a Houston art museum, following up on a tip that there was art there that threatened Bush.
The Progressive's McCarthyism Watch: Activists try to buy stamps without flags on them for mail and are questioned by police and postal authorities.
Statewatch, which focuses on European civil liberties, has a special section on the impact of post-9/11 laws. [via nettime]
Cointelpro: why the restrictions Ashcroft wants to remove from the FBI were put in place. [via rc3]
Ashcroft is considering relaxing the restrictions preventing the FBI from spying on religious and political organizations.
Transcript of Michael Chertoff of the Justice Department testifying at senate hearing on preserving freedoms while defending against terrorism.
Learning from Israel: restrictions on civil liberties does not make a country more safe.
Terror war raises fears about rights: details laws being pushed through by state and federal lawmakers reducing civil liberties in the name of fighting terror. [via The Smirking Chimp]
Portland police are refusing to cooperate with the Justice Department in questioning uncharged immigrants, holding that it would violate state law. [via Interesting People]
