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Title: Edward Snowden’s Email Provider Shuts Down After Secret Court Battle
Source:
Wired
URL Source: http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2013/08/lavabit-snowden/
Published: Aug 8, 2013
Author: BY KEVIN POULSEN08.08.13
Post Date: 2013-08-08 17:12:06 by Brian S
Keywords: None
Views: 3674
Comments: 6
A nearly 10-year-old pro-privacy Texas email service long used by NSA leaker Edward Snowden abruptly shut down today, alluding in a statement to a secret U.S. court battle that it’s been fighting for six weeks, and has so far lost. “I have been forced to make a difficult decision: to become complicit in crimes against the American people or walk away from nearly ten years of hard work by shutting down Lavabit,” wrote owner Ladar Levison. “After significant soul searching, I have decided to suspend operations.” Lavabit came to attention last month when NSA leaker Edward Snowden used an email account with the firm to invite local human rights workers and lawyers to a press conference in the Moscow airport where he was then confined. PGP records suggest that Snowden has favored the service since January 2010 — well before he became the most important whistleblower in a generation. Levison posted this message today announcing the shutdown. My Fellow Users, I have been forced to make a difficult decision: to become complicit in crimes against the American people or walk away from nearly ten years of hard work by shutting down Lavabit. After significant soul searching, I have decided to suspend operations. I wish that I could legally share with you the events that led to my decision. I cannot. I feel you deserve to know what’s going on–the first amendment is supposed to guarantee me the freedom to speak out in situations like this. Unfortunately, Congress has passed laws that say otherwise. As things currently stand, I cannot share my experiences over the last six weeks, even though I have twice made the appropriate requests. What’s going to happen now? We’ve already started preparing the paperwork needed to continue to fight for the Constitution in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. A favorable decision would allow me resurrect Lavabit as an American company. This experience has taught me one very important lesson: without congressional action or a strong judicial precedent, I would _strongly_ recommend against anyone trusting their private data to a company with physical ties to the United States. Sincerely, Defending the constitution is expensive! Help us by donating to the Lavabit Legal Defense Fund here. Reading between the lines, it’s logical to assume Levison has been fighting either a National Security Letter seeking customer information — which comes by default with a gag order — or a full blown search or eavesdropping warrant. Court records show that, in June, Lavabit complied with a routine search warrant targeting a child pornography suspect in a federal case in Maryland. That suggests that Levison isn’t a privacy absolutist. Whatever compelled him to shut down now must have been exceptional. A voicemail to Lavabit went unreturned today.
Ladar Levison
Owner and Operator, Lavabit LLC
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#1. To: Brian S, *The Two Parties ARE the Same* (#0)
I would _strongly_ recommend against anyone trusting their private data to a company with physical ties to the United States. YAY !!! Land of the free, has been outsourced.
Knowing the delicate touch of the feds,it was probably a threat to be indicted as a co-conspirator and lose everything he has to pay lawyers to try to stay out of prison. When you are a fly about to be ran over by a bulldozer,it's a good idea to move.
Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
I agree,and would take it further than that and say don't trust anybody anywhere. Global Government,Inc doesn't have borders.
Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
"The Cloud" online data storage is not a good place to be.
Thanks for posting. Regret your vote yet?
Inching toward that line... Never swear "allegiance" to anything other than the 'right to change your mind'!
I have been forced to make a difficult decision: to become complicit in crimes against the American people or walk away from nearly ten years of hard work by shutting down Lavabit. After significant soul searching, I have decided to suspend operations.
The D&R terrorists hate us because we're free, to vote Third Party
"We (government) need to do a lot less, a lot sooner" ~Ron Paul
#2. To: Brian S (#0)
Whatever compelled him to shut down now must have been exceptional.
#3. To: hondo68 (#1)
I would _strongly_ recommend against anyone trusting their private data to a company with physical ties to the United States.
#4. To: sneakypete (#3)
The D&R terrorists hate us because we're free, to vote Third Party
"We (government) need to do a lot less, a lot sooner" ~Ron Paul
#5. To: Brian S (#0)
(Edited)
#6. To: A K A Stone (#5)
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