A federal judge has struck down a component of the USA Patriot Act, saying the post-9/11 law violates constitutional principles by attempting to force third parties such as Internet service providers who receive demands for information without search warrants to keep silent about those inquiries. U.S. District Court Judge Victor Marrero handed a victory to Patriot Act opponents including the American Civil Liberties Union with the ruling, which was handed down on Thursday.
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us: Judge deals blow to Patriot Act
A key portion of the Patriot Act is unconstitutional and violates Americans’ free speech rights, a federal judge said Thursday in a case that could represent a bitter setback for the Bush administration’s attempts to expand its surveillance powers.U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero said the section of the Patriot Act that permits the FBI to send Internet service providers secret demands, called national security letters, for customer information violates the First Amendment and unreasonably curbs the authority of the judiciary.
http://news.com.com/2100-1028_3-6206570.html
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-6206570.html
Judge Invalidates Patriot Act Provisions
A federal judge struck down controversial portions of the USA Patriot Act in a ruling that declared them unconstitutional yesterday, ordering the FBI to stop its wide use of a warrantless tactic for obtaining e-mail and telephone data from private companies for counterterrorism investigations.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/06/AR2007090601438.html