From: http://www.sfsite.com/columns/geeks119.htm
quote:
The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE) recently sent a letter to all American Booksellers Association members. It began like this:
"Last week, President Bush signed into law an anti-terrorism bill that gives the federal government expanded authority to search your business records, including the titles of the books purchased by your customers. This letter contains our best legal judgment on what you should do if you are served with a court order under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).
"Under the new law, the director of the FBI may seek an order "for any tangible things (including books, records, papers, documents, and other items) for an investigation to protect against international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities." The request for such an order is made to a judge who sits in a special court that is sometimes called the "spy court." The judge makes his decision "ex parte," meaning there is no opportunity for you or your lawyer to object in court. You cannot object publicly either. The new law includes a gag order that prevents you from disclosing "to any other person" the fact that you have received an order to produce documents."
The letter goes on to outline what a bookseller rights are and what to do if they receive a subpoena. This law counters the first1 and sixth2 amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
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