4 ms·

At least in the US, 'ex post facto' laws are specifically forbidden by the Constitution: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ex_post_facto_law http://en.wikipedia.org/

At least in the US, 'ex post facto' laws are specifically forbidden by the Constitution: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ex_post_facto_law http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ex_post_facto_law

JupiterMoon 11y ago
The original poster is called "abritishguy". Assuming this translates to information about his location then his country according to that article (and according to it's lack of formal Constitution) has no such protection.
amreact 11y ago
True, but the US government doesn't even pretend to follow the Constitution anymore. Also, the Constitution can be amended. We can't guarantee that ex post facto laws will remain unconstitutional for the duration of your lifetime. Also, states are technically not obliged to abide by the US constitution.
- dragonwriter 11y ago
  The first and last paragraphs are incorrect; you may disagree that the federal government actually follows the Constitution, but that's a different issue. And while many provisions of the Constitution address only the federal government, States are still bound by it to the extent it addresses them, as it does, among other places, in the 14th Amendment.
  - amreact 11y ago
    The first paragraph is correct because I clearly meant it in figurative language, not literal language. Regardless, my point is this: the US government does not obey the US constitution. The last paragraph is correct in context. Specifically, with regards to encryption, states are allowed to do whatever they want because the Constitution doesn't mention encryption and because of the 10th amendment, which states: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. The last paragraph is also correct because the ex post facto law clause of the Constitution only applies to Congress, not the states [1] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_One_of_the_United_States_Constitution#Section_9:_Limits_on_Congress https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_One_of_the_United_Stat...

At least in the US, 'ex post facto' laws are specifically forbidden by the Constitution: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ex_post_facto_law http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ex_post_facto_law

JupiterMoon 11y ago

The original poster is called "abritishguy". Assuming this translates to information about his location then his country according to that article (and according to it's lack of formal Constitution) has no such protection.

amreact 11y ago

True, but the US government doesn't even pretend to follow the Constitution anymore. Also, the Constitution can be amended. We can't guarantee that ex post facto laws will remain unconstitutional for the duration of your lifetime. Also, states are technically not obliged to abide by the US constitution.

dragonwriter 11y ago
The first and last paragraphs are incorrect; you may disagree that the federal government actually follows the Constitution, but that's a different issue. And while many provisions of the Constitution address only the federal government, States are still bound by it to the extent it addresses them, as it does, among other places, in the 14th Amendment.
- amreact 11y ago
  The first paragraph is correct because I clearly meant it in figurative language, not literal language. Regardless, my point is this: the US government does not obey the US constitution. The last paragraph is correct in context. Specifically, with regards to encryption, states are allowed to do whatever they want because the Constitution doesn't mention encryption and because of the 10th amendment, which states: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. The last paragraph is also correct because the ex post facto law clause of the Constitution only applies to Congress, not the states [1] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_One_of_the_United_States_Constitution#Section_9:_Limits_on_Congress https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_One_of_the_United_Stat...