(EFF) Secrecy surrounds law enforcement’s communications surveillance practices like a dense fog. Particularly shrouded in secrecy are government demands issued under 18 U.S.C. § 2703 of the Stored Communications Act or “SCA” that seek subscriber information or other user records from communications service providers. When the government wants such data from a phone company or online service provider, it can obtain a court order under the SCA demanding the information from the provider, along with a gag order preventing the provider from disclosing the existence of the government’s demand. More often, companies are simply served with subpoenas issued directly by prosecutors without any court involvement; these demands, too, are rarely made public. (For more background on how the SCA works, see this section of EFF’s Surveillance Self-Defense manual.)

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After a series of crackdowns by Middletown officials against Middletown Food Not Bombs, the food activists are going on the offensive.  Today, FNB filed a federal injunction that would halt a cease and desist order which bars the group from meal-sharing activities unless food is prepared in a Health Department registered kitchen.   The target of the injunction is both the city of Middletown and the state of Connecticut.   According to the FNB press release, the cease and desist order also applies to “political” activities as well.  And, in a lawsuit filed on Friday, FNB argues that attempts to stop FNB’s public meals infringe on the group’s constitutional rights and has a chilling effect on such activities elsewhere.  Read the full story

RadioActive presents an exclusive interview with Marissa Blazsko, former Opinions Editor for The Recorder, CCSU’s student newspaper.  Blazsko was fired from her position after participating in political activism on campus and in the community.  On RadioActive, Blazsko discusses the implications of The Recorder’s actions on current and future journalists, as well as the selective application of rights to “free speech.”  Read the full story

Marissa Blazsko was fired by the CCSU newspaper for her political beliefs.  Hear what she has to say about it, and about objectivity, journalism and free speech.

Click here to download the MP3

Interview with Peter Chase, the Plainville, CT librarian who resisted an FBI national security letter and won.

Click here to download the MP3