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If giving up Osama Bin Ladin's location also required giving up the privacy of everyone that uses Google to the CIA, then I would say that act would become OBL

If giving up Osama Bin Ladin's location also required giving up the privacy of everyone that uses Google to the CIA, then I would say that act would become OBL crowning achievement. He already succeeded in destroying an icon of our economy and taking thousands of lives with it. Are you really suggesting that its acceptable for us to debase one of the basic human rights that are the foundation of this country in order to capture one man? This is exactly what is happening with Lavabit. I don't think any law should be based on public opinion, but when the interpretation of a law is potentially unconstitutional, then that interpretation becomes a matter of public opinion that should be decided in the US Supreme Court.

mikeyouse 13y ago
Lavabit had the option of providing access to only Snowden's account. They declined that option. The FBI then escalated their demand to get the data they were entitled to. This 'unconstitutional' demand from the FBI was Lababit's creation by being obstinate to begin with. Did they just expect the government to give up after Lavabit told them they couldn't access that data?
- ahallock 13y ago
  So let's blame the victim? If only Lavabit had capitulated then the poor FBI would not have had to escalate their demands. If only the battered wife had just done what her husband wanted, he wouldn't have had to break her nose. The government does not apply the law uniformly. It escalates when it wants to, when it's been embarrassed or slighted. Keep your head down and don't make trouble.
- kingkilr 13y ago
  The government doesn't get to escalate, that's not how it works. The government has structural, fundamental, limitations on its power: http://alexgaynor.net/2013/oct/02/thoughts-lavabit/ http://alexgaynor.net/2013/oct/02/thoughts-lavabit/
beedogs 13y ago
> Are you really suggesting that its acceptable for us to debase one of the basic human rights that are the foundation of this country in order to capture one man? That ship has already sailed. Take a look at the Boston marathon bombing manhunt if you need any more evidence of how far 'out the window' your fundamental human rights can go, given the right circumstances.

mikeyouse 13y ago

Lavabit had the option of providing access to only Snowden's account. They declined that option. The FBI then escalated their demand to get the data they were entitled to. This 'unconstitutional' demand from the FBI was Lababit's creation by being obstinate to begin with. Did they just expect the government to give up after Lavabit told them they couldn't access that data?

ahallock 13y ago
So let's blame the victim? If only Lavabit had capitulated then the poor FBI would not have had to escalate their demands. If only the battered wife had just done what her husband wanted, he wouldn't have had to break her nose. The government does not apply the law uniformly. It escalates when it wants to, when it's been embarrassed or slighted. Keep your head down and don't make trouble.
kingkilr 13y ago
The government doesn't get to escalate, that's not how it works. The government has structural, fundamental, limitations on its power: http://alexgaynor.net/2013/oct/02/thoughts-lavabit/ http://alexgaynor.net/2013/oct/02/thoughts-lavabit/

beedogs 13y ago

> Are you really suggesting that its acceptable for us to debase one of the basic human rights that are the foundation of this country in order to capture one man? That ship has already sailed. Take a look at the Boston marathon bombing manhunt if you need any more evidence of how far 'out the window' your fundamental human rights can go, given the right circumstances.