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[FYI] Too Much Information?
<http://abcnews.go.com/sections/WNT/US/internet_sensitive_info_040812
-1.html>
Too Much Information?
Web Site Raises Questions About Public Access to Sensitive Government
Info
By JakeTapper
ABCNEWS.com
Aug. 12, 2004 — John Young, a 69-year-old architect, was contacted a
few weeks ago by Department of Homeland Security officials, who
expressed concern about what he was posting on his Web site.
[...]
Officials questioned Young about information he had posted about the
2004 Democratic National Convention, including satellite photos of
the convention site and the location of specific police barricades
referred to on the site as "a complete joke."
In response to a complaint, two special agents from the FBI's
counterterrorism office in New York City interviewed Young in
November 2003.
"They said, 'Why didn't you call us about this? Why are you telling
the public?' And we said, 'Because it's out there and you can see it.
You folks weren't doing anything,' " Young told ABC News.
The agents, according to Young, stressed they knew that nothing on
the site was illegal. Young added: "They said, 'What we'd like you to
do, if you're approached by anyone that you think intends to harm the
United States, we're asking you to let us know that.' "
"I know there are a lot of people in the government who find him
troublesome," said former White House terrorism adviser Richard
Clarke, now an ABC News consultant. "There is a real tension here
between the public's right to know and civil liberties, on the one
hand, and security on the other."
But Young argues his actions enhance national security, since he
points out to the public vulnerabilities the government does not want
to acknowledge.
[...]
When asked how he would respond to those who consider his Web site
unpatriotic since it could provide useful information for those who
seek to harm the United States, Young said, "If this is not done,
more Americans are going to die. More harm is going to come to the
United States. It is more patriotic to get information out than to
withhold it."
Officials acknowledge there is not much they can do; Young has not
broken any laws.
See also:
<http://cryptome.org/abc-cryptome.htm>
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