Comments on: ACLU files suit to stop warrantless mobile phone searches

By: Martha Bridegam

Martha Bridegam — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 07:27:00 +0000

Glad that Bob’s phone case is getting some attention. Sad that less attention was paid to the January 2012 protest that started his trouble. It was a gutsy one-man statement against a proposed ordinance targeting homeless people. The ordinance would have pretty much made it illegal to spend time in certain public plazas while visibly homeless. See http://blog.sfgate.com/cityinsider/2012/01/23/proposed-castro-plaza-regulations-clear-first-hurdle/ The right of visibly poor people to use public space is also a civil rights issue, but a less popular one than data privacy. The plaza ordinance, btw, did pass, but in less howlingly discriminatory form than originally proposed. Likely Bob’s activism should get some of the credit for that. See strikeouts showing rejection of initially proposed overwrought language at http://www.sfbos.org/ftp/uploadedfiles/bdsupvrs/ordinances12/o0022-12.pdf via http://www.sfbos.org/index.aspx?page=12653 There’s some especially weird crud in there about “wheeled conveyances” that seems to have been directed against shopping carts.

By: Cowicide

Cowicide — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 07:12:00 +0000

I care!

By: imag

imag — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 05:02:00 +0000

I am simultaneously infuriated, grateful to the the many folks who are bringing this suit, and commenting. Hope that helps!

P.S. – Should we tax the dead instead?

By: imag

imag — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 05:00:00 +0000

And heck, if you need a lawyer, support Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP. According to the article, they are doing this pro bono. Wish there were more lawyers like that.

By: ohbejoyful

ohbejoyful — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 01:59:00 +0000

comment dearth =/= non-caring

By: pjcamp

pjcamp — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 01:00:00 +0000

I was watching an old Frontline tonight called The Confessions.

Worth watching every time someone wants you to trust the cops.

By: endrest

endrest — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 20:46:00 +0000

And I can see from the dearth of comments that too few seem to not care about this, fundamentally, human-rights issue. Yes, I believe unwarranted search and seizure is something that no human should be subjected to… especially in the USA..especially in ‘Free Speech’ zones –which should infuriate any American who feels that the Constitution has been slowly dismantled in the last 80 years to only benefit the wealthy. Then again, I also believe income tax is a tax on the living and never should have been instituted.

By: Cowicide

Cowicide — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 19:52:00 +0000

Another great reminder to donate to the ACLU…

https://www.aclu.org/secure/make-gift-aclu?s_src=UNS130001C00