Police director sues for critical bloggers' names

Police director sues for critical bloggers' names

www.commercialappeal.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

I do not like the direction this is going. I don't see police going after critical television news personalities...

The only difference is that we do not have commercial sponsorship ...


www.commercialappeal.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

reply to post by Tapped In

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Are you sure you wanna speak out? What you say here could potentially be used against you in a court of law...Good find. Bad cop.

reply to post by titorite

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My words are at a minimum these days. I'm just finding the news that needs to be read. My words are limited to my novels from now on...

If AOL makes the wrong decision here they could risk millions.

By law they're not supposed to divulge information about what their subscribers do online to a third party or private company, but because this is a law enforcement agency demanding this information the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act says they have to by law cooperate with them if they require that information. (Another warm thank you goes out to Bush folks! )

I don't know if it has to be for a specific purpose, related to terrorism or whatever, but nevertheless this leaves AOL in a pretty pickle.

If they sell out one customer do they sell out everyone who says a bad word about the Cops online? Or the government? Or conspiracy theorists? Or peopling downloading movies?

What's next? That's the question.
I would say in this case money talks, but hey which would you rather choose a multi-million dollar Federal lawsuit or multi-million dollar losses due to drop in subscribers?

Not a good spot to be in.

[edit on 24/7/08 by The Godfather of Conspira]

What has the guy got to hide so badly that he wants this blogger "caught"?

Has the person in question been naming names and making false accusations?

Obviously you can't get away with deformation etc.. in a blog - RW laws do still apply.

If , like all companies, you provided a good service , and like a shop had great 'aftersales service', there'd be no need to complain. But like the saying goes, you reap what you sow.
Provide a shoddy service , get moaned at about it. provide great quality care and provide a human face to whatever services you provide not only do you get great feedback you also get great respect.and repeat business.
The more respect you get the better and easier for you to provide a service with very little hassle.
For example : from a police side of view.
You have to arrest someone, show compassion (instead of beating them up)( by the way I know not all cops are the same).
Provide counciling or help for the families and the criminal.
In return because you treated him and his family right, he'll give respect back and co-operate in the future. ( I know not all crims are the same either) .
simple isnt it?
But this guy obviously isn't treating his staff with respect or dignity and now someones complained he wants to find out who.
It like my work here < A driver who drove the Governor of this company , complained about his boss, he soon got moved to another director. He complained that his boss made him work with not enough rest between evening and morning pickups and that he was overworked.
If the boss had shown compassion and a little common sense the driver wouldn't have had to complain.

Maybe he's got some compromising photos of that Director in a skin-tight police uniform at a gay pride parade?

Who knows, I think it's been blown out of proportion.
George Bush gets it far worse, prime television gives him sh*t like there's no tomorrow you don't see him trying to sue David Lettermen or Jon Stewart.

Having been an AOL volunteer for many years I can tell you that in the past they fought suits like this tooth and nail. It took a supreme court decision for them to give info on subscribers in the past. I'm sure that this time they will again. If they knuckle under without a fight, they will loose more of the market than they already have. As a public servant, this police director might not have a leg to stand on. A public servant has no right to privacy and also it is legal, under the constitution, to be subject to criticism by the public. Even if its annonomously! He would have to prove in court that what is being said is false, before AOL should have to relinquish any names or personal info!

Zindo

I live in the Memphis area and am very upset that this is even happening. I don't understand why the director is concerned with a blog. Ego makes a person dangerous. The crime here is horrible to say the least. Memphis used to be a nice place to live but now anyone who can afford to leave is doing so. The suburbs outside Memphis are exploding with new homes (even in this market) and thousands are moving fast. The city needs more police officers badly yet they can't get enough people to apply. They had forced people to live within the city limits if they held a city position or they would fire them. They actually audit you if your w-2 is sent to an address outside the city. Now the qualified applicants for all city jobs are slim because no one with a family wants to stay here.