Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : DON'T START THE WAR -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Thomas M. who wrote (19719)	3/12/2003 11:53:05 AM
From: Karen Lawrence	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 25898

Santa Cruz Libraries Post Warnings About US Patriot Act Source: kcbs (all right Santa Cruz librarians! Standing up for the Constitution) Publication date: 2003-03-10 kcbs.com (KCBS) - Libraries in Santa Cruz are taking a stand against the US Patriot Act. KCBS reporter Jim Taylor says warnings have been posted about what can happen to your information if you use the public library. The Patriot Act allows the federal government to secretly procure your local library's records, enabling checks on what books you may read and what internet sites you may visit. "Our concern about the Patriot Act is that it really takes away constitutional rights that people have to privacy and a number of the Bill of Rights," said Santa Cruz City Councilman Mike Rotkin. "The Federal Government can come in and get lists of who's been checking out what books, who's been going to what places on the internet, things like that. We think that really has a chilling effect on people's right to get information, which shouldn’t really be happening." Librarians are prohibited from telling patrons if their library records have been accessed, so all Santa Cruz libraries have posted signs warning users of the possibility. "We think it's best that our patrons know what's going on," said Rotkin. "In the Patriot Act it says for example if the library is asked for information about someone, they're not allowed to disclose that they were asked for information or that they'd given it out. We thought people should be aware of that." "They still can see or look for whatever they'd like to get, but we think the disclosure's important," he said. The Santa Cruz librarian has developed a clever way of getting around the Act. At each monthly board meeting she announces there have been no search warrants served. If she ever fails to make that announcement, it will be a tip that the government has asked about someone.