FTRF, ACLU Nudge Justice Department
over Patriot Act Lawsuit
The Freedom to Read Foundation and three other groups filed papers in federal district court November 14 asking the U.S. Department of Justice to respond immediately to their lawsuit that seeks data on government surveillance of libraries and bookstores under the USA Patriot Act.
After more than two weeks of negotiations with Justice Department lawyers failed to secure cooperation, FTRF—along with the American Civil Liberties Union, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, and the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression—requested Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle of the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia to order the department to disclose what records it has within one week and release them within 20 days.
“It is distressing that Congress and the American people lack even the barest of information about how the government is using its expanded powers in libraries and bookstores,” said FTRF Executive Director Judith F. Krug. The information sought includes the number of times the department has directed a library, bookstore, or newspaper to produce circulation or purchase records.
David Sobel, general counsel for EPIC, emphasized that the FOIA request does not seek any information that might compromise national security. “We are asking only for aggregate statistical data and other policy-level information,” he said. The October 24 lawsuit was filed because the Justice Department did not respond to an August 21 Freedom of Information Act request for the information.
Posted November 18, 2002.
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