The search warrant, issued July
12, was directed at Los Angeles-based provider DreamHost, which hosts
DisruptJ20.org on its servers, allowing individuals to access and use
the site online. If the warrant is enforced, the activities of some 1.3
million visitors will be revealed to the government through the seizure
of their personal Internet records.
DreamHost is challenging the warrant in the Superior Court.
DreamHost’s general counsel, Chris Ghazarian, characterized the warrant
as “a sweeping request for every single file we have.” He added, “The
search warrant is not only dealing with everything in relation to the
website, but also tons of data about people who visited it.”
The company’s filing notes: “Scrutiny of this type demonstrates that
the warrant lacks the specificity required by the Fourth Amendment and
is unreasonable as a whole. In addition, the search warrant violates the
Privacy Protection Act and was not authorized by District of Columbia
law. For the foregoing reasons, DreamHost respectfully requests that the
government’s motion be denied.”
By Don Barrett and Niles Niemuth wsws.org:
A Washington DC Superior Court will hear a challenge Friday to the
ominous and anti-democratic warrant filed by the US Department of
Justice (DoJ), demanding the emails, logs of visitor Internet addresses,
contact information and photographs relating to the website
DisruptJ20.org, a group that coordinated protests at President Donald
Trump’s January 20 inauguration.
