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Senators Ask FBI to Explain Flawed ‘National Security Letter’ to Internet Archive

Senators Ask FBI to Explain Flawed ‘National Security Letter’ to Internet Archive, By Ryan Singel, Wired Blog, May 15, 2008.

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators is asking FBI head Robert Mueller to explain why the feds sought records from the Internet Archive, a digital library, using a controversial administrative subpoena known as a National Security Letter, which is intended for a communications service providers….

Specifically, they asked Mueller if the FBI actually believed that the Internet Archive was an communications service provider. If it were, FBI agents could get subscriber records using an NSL under the auspices of the Electronic Communications Protection Act. But if the Internet Archive is a library, that subpoena would be inapplicable and possibly illegal. That would mean that the NSL should be reported to the Intelligence Oversight Board as a possible violation of law.

The senators are asking Mueller if the Internet Archive subpoena actually was reported to the board.

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