US source protection bill amended to exclude WikiLeaks

[superconnected]

Source: Journalism.Co.UK

The furore surrounding WikiLeaks continues this week, as US Senators reportedly working on a “media-shields” legislation to protect journalists from revealing sources are making amendments to ensure no such protection can be afforded to the whistleblowing site.

According to a report by the NYTimes.com, senators Charles Schumer and Dianne Feinstein are drafting the amendment to outline that the bill’s protections would “extend only to traditional news-gathering activities and not to websites that serve as a conduit for the mass dissemination of secret documents”.

Quoting Schumer in a statement he claims the amendments will ensure there is no chance of the law ever being used to protect websites like WikiLeaks.

"WikiLeaks should not be spared in any way from the fullest prosecution possible under the law. Our bill already includes safeguards when a leak impacts national security, and it would never grant protection to a website like this one, but we will take this extra step to remove even a scintilla of doubt."

Read more: http://blogs.journalism.co.uk/editors/2010/08/04/us-source-protection-bill-amended-to-exclude-wikileaks/

[villager]

1. "traditional news-gathering" has already been rendered harmless -- you can't go around protecting

sources, or outlets, that might actually upset those in power...

[superconnected]

2. So they're stopping whistle blowers, while the bill was designed to protect them.

got it.

"Our bill already includes safeguards when a leak impacts national security"

This should be thrown out because the gov always cries "it hurts national security" when confronted with the truth being out there. The "National Security" card usually comes up when hiding an abuse.

[Javaman]

3. Unconstittutional bullshit. freedom for some but not others.

some animals are more equal than others.

Big Brother gives them a wet kiss.

[Arctic Dave]

4. You will be protected! Unless you report the truth.

Charles, Dianne GFY.

[AlbertCat]

5. Boy, as petty and vindictive as the GOP are we?

[mbperrin]

6. Why not simplify things and simply pass a law that only allows anyone

to cut and paste official government handouts? Quit thinking for yourself and looking into anything! It's the "traditional" way.

Just as, traditionally, the US is a slave-owning country. Just as, traditionally, money overrides all morality. Just as, traditionally, young people die when old men tire of arguing.

BY ALL MEANS, let's do things the "traditional" way - so much more comfy, especially for the ruling class.

[truedelphi]

8. I like that. It simplifies many things.

And prevents the Courts from having to worry their sweet pattoties over the matter.

With that as the law, the Courts will be free to decide how many organic farmers now protesting Monsanto's take over of the food chain should be considered terrorists.

[Jefferson23]

7. In other words, don't fuck with the military industrial complex, especially

when your information is as telling as Assange's WikiLeaks is.


Schmucks.

[askeptic]

9. Sounds like a Bill of Attainder of only Wikileaks targeted