Two civil liberties groups file motion to challenge WikiLeaks probe

The Electronic Freedom Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Union filed a motion to challenge the Justice Department’s  attempt to obtain the Twitter records of a former WikiLeaks associate. Among others, the U.S. government is is targeting Birgitta Jonsdottir, a member of Iceland’s parliament. Jonsdottir was one of two people who helped Wikileaks prepare a [...]

Open government advocate applauds official’s leak of U.S. post-war support of Nazis

Steven Aftergood of Secrecy News says that a comparison of the redacted report with the one released to the public shows that it was proper for an official to leak the complete text of the report showing that the U.S. gave Nazis safe haven after World War II. -db Secrecy News Opinion November 16, 2010 [...]

Government watchdog groups says Department of Justice thwarted interview of convicted lobbyist

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has filed a Freedom of Information Act request concerning what they claim are government efforts to block interviews with Jack Abramoff now serving a prison term for conspiracy, fraud and tax evasion in an influence-peddling scandal in Washington. -db THE WRAP May 5, 2010 By Steve Pond Disgraced [...]

Telcos losing ground in attempts to withhold records of their lobbying government in warrantless spying case

A federal district judge ruled September 24 that the government had to release the names of telecom employees who lobbied the Justice Department and White House to legislation to grant them legal immunity in their warrantless spying on American citizens. The White House is appealing the decision. -DB Wired October 8, 2009 By Ryan Singel [...]

Associated Press asks federal government for greater transparency

The Associated Press chief executive officer said in testimony on Capitol Hill that the Freedom of Information Act is weakened by a section that allows Congress to write exemptions into the law that have not been vetted by public discussion or subject to judicial review. -DB JURIST October 1, 2009 By Andrew Morgan Associated Press [...]