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The Miranda exception and why I’m not concerned
I’ve been debating on Facebook with several people whose views I respect about the decision by law-enforcement officials to invoke the “public safety” exception and question Dzhokhar Tsarnaev without...
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The Russian government’s literally incredible behavior
News Dissector Danny Schechter retweeted this blog post by former British diplomat Craig Murray, who questions the notion that the Russian government warned the United States of Tamerlan Tsarnaev’s...
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Misplaced priorities at the Boston Police Dept.
Howard Zinn Last October the Massachusetts chapter of the ACLU revealed that the Boston Police Department had been spying on left-wing activists such as the late Howard Zinn. The police were working...
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This one is on us
As we all express our outrage over the Verizon snooping, as we should, let’s remember: President Obama did this legally, following a provision of the Patriot Act that, as a senator, he voted for, and...
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Get ready for the 16th Annual Muzzle Awards
When The Boston Phoenix ceased publication in March, I started casting about for a new home for the Muzzle Awards — an annual Fourth of July round-up of outrages against free speech in New England that...
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Another year of outrages against free speech
The 16th annual Muzzle Awards are now online at WGBH News, as well as at The Providence Phoenix and The Portland Phoenix. A New England tradition continues.
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Right, wrongs and the Supreme Court
Wednesday was a very good (if not quite great) day for gay and lesbian couples. Unfortunately, the stench of Tuesday’s voting-rights decision remains. Here is some needed perspective on the Supreme...
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A chilling act of intimidation and harassment
Glenn Greenwald This is pretty shocking. On Sunday, David Miranda, the partner of lawyer/activist/journalist Glenn Greenwald, was detained at Heathrow Airport in London for nearly nine hours and...
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‘Material support’ and the case of Tarek Mehanna
Tarek Mehanna In today’s Boston Globe, civil-liberties lawyer and friend of Media Nation Harvey Silverglate explains in chilling detail the constitutional underpinnings — or, rather, the absence of...
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Your must-read on the Probation Department case
As you may have heard, former state Probation Department commissioner John O’Brien and two underlings have been convicted in federal court of charges related to patronage. In Massachusetts Lawyers...
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A polite debate over Apple, the FBI, and encryption
I had expected fireworks—or at least strong disagreements—when Internet privacy advocate Jonathan Zittrain and former CIA director John Deutsch debated the impasse between Apple and the FBI over a...
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Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls: Presenting the 2017 New England Muzzle...
Illustration by Emily Judem of WGBH News Time for hot dogs, fireworks and the annual New England Muzzle Awards, hosted once again by WGBH News. Believe it or not, this is the 20th time that Harvey...
View ArticleThe 16th annual New England Muzzle Awards
Previously published by WGBHNews.org, the Providence Phoenix and the Portland Phoenix. For anyone who’s been paying attention, President Barack Obama’s disappointing record on free speech, civil...
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Obama’s secret war on civil liberties
Remember Section 215? It was a notorious provision of the USA Patriot Act, renewed on Thursday, that allowed the government to snoop on what library books you’d borrowed, what videos you’d rented, your...
View ArticlePresenting the 15th Annual Muzzle Awards
The 15th Annual Muzzle Awards, published every Fourth of July (give or take) by the Phoenix newspapers of Boston, Providence and Portland, are now online and in print. Inspired by my friend Harvey...
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Aaron Swartz, Carmen Ortiz and the meaning of justice
Aaron Swartz in January 2012 An earlier version of this commentary was published on Sunday at The Huffington Post. The suicide of Internet activist Aaron Swartz has prompted a wave of revulsion...
View ArticleThe Miranda exception and why I’m not concerned
I’ve been debating on Facebook with several people whose views I respect about the decision by law-enforcement officials to invoke the “public safety” exception and question Dzhokhar Tsarnaev without...
View ArticleThe Russian government’s literally incredible behavior
News Dissector Danny Schechter retweeted this blog post by former British diplomat Craig Murray, who questions the notion that the Russian government warned the United States of Tamerlan Tsarnaev’s...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Misplaced priorities at the Boston Police Dept.
Howard Zinn Last October the Massachusetts chapter of the ACLU revealed that the Boston Police Department had been spying on left-wing activists such as the late Howard Zinn. The police were working...
View ArticleReporting by DigBoston and BINJ helps delay snooping by surveillance cameras
Reporting by DigBoston and the Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism helped stave off a serious violation of civil liberties — at least for now. Dan Atkinson reported on March 25 that “city...
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