[Nettime-bold] FW: [townhall-discuss] chipping away our rights

Good thing most GOOD Americans don’t read anymore huh….hahahahah

[Steve said]

From the American Bookseller's Foundation For Free Experession Website

http://www.abffe.com/

New Antiterrorism Law May Affect Booksellers

The new federal antiterrorism law that was signed by President Bush on October 26 contained a number of provisions that are deeply troubling to civil libertarians. One of them makes it easier for the FBI to search a bookstore's business records, including the titles of the books purchased by customers.

ABFFE is deeply concerned by the potential chilling effect of court orders issued to booksellers under this new law. Normally, when a bookseller receives a subpoena for customer information, he or she has the opportunity to ask the court to quash the order on First Amendment grounds. In several cases, booksellers have successfully resisted subpoenas. Under the new amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), however, booksellers may not have this chance. Depending on the wording of the order, the bookseller may be required to immediately turn over the records that are being sought.

ABFFE has sent a letter to all members of the American Booksellers Association advising them of what to do if they receive a court order under FISA.
To see the ABFFE letter, click here.