EFF Sues U.S. Gov Over Social Network Spying

December 5. 2009

The EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) has slapped the U.S. government with a Freedom of Information lawsuit, regarding the FBI, DOJ, Secret Service and CIA, among others, spying on citizens via social networking websites.

I think it is acceptable for government agencies to hunt for criminals by searching social networking sites, even subpoenaing the records associated with their accounts, when demonstrable crimes have occurred. 

However, if the government transgresses privacy boundaries, against innocent people in doing so, by all means, it should be brought to light and investigated. 

Just because one is on a social networking site, does not mean law abiding citizens are not entitled to some measure of privacy, regarding private offline messages and IMs, sent through sites such as Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and the like. 

The problem that has repeatedly occurred with the FBI, for example, is the agency using lawful investigative tools, to not only spy on criminals, but innocent, influential people as well, with the latter being thoroughly illegal. Kudos to the EFF for demanding an accounting of the government's deeds in this regard.  

EFF Sues DOJ for Sleuthing Practices on Facebook, Twitter

2009-12-03 - The Electronic Frontier Foundation and Berkeley's Samuelson Clinic have sued the Department of Justice and five other government organizations for cloaking their policies for using Facebook, Twitter and other social networks to investigate citizens in criminal and other matters. The groups want to know exactly how and what kinds of info feds are accessing from users' social networking profiles. The suit also comes as Congress is considering legislation that may increase protections for consumers who use social networking sites.

Privacy watchdogs for the Electronic Frontier Foundation have sued the Department of Justice and five other government organizations for cloaking their policies for using Facebook, Twitter and other social networks to investigate citizens in criminal and other matters...

http://www.eweek.com