[Politech] FBI visits John Young, asks about anti-government activity [fs]
Declan McCullagh
declan at well.com
Wed Nov 5 14:01:52 PST 2003
John Young is a longtime supporter of open government and public access to
government information. See:
http://www.mccullagh.org/cgi-bin/photosearch.cgi?name=john+young
-Declan
---
http://cryptome.org/fbi-cryptome.htm
4 November 2003
Cryptome received a visit today from FBI Special Agents Todd Renner and
Christopher Kelly from the FBI Counterterrorism Office in New York, 26
Federal Plaza, telephone (212) 384-1000. Both agents presented official ID
and business cards.
SA Renner said that a person had reported Cryptome as a source of
information that could be used to harm the United States. He said Cryptome
website had been examined and nothing on the site was illegal but
information there might be used for harmful purposes. He noted that
information in the Cryptome CDs might wind up in the wrong hands.
SA Renner said there is no investigation of Cryptome, that the purpose of
the visit was to ask Cryptome to report to the FBI any information which
Cryptome "had a gut feeling" could be a threat to the nation.
There was a discussion of the purpose of Cryptome, freedom of information,
the need for more public information on threats to the nation and what
citizens can do to protect themselves, the need for more public information
about how the FBI functions in the field and the intention of visits like
the one today.
SA Kelly said such visits are increasingly common as the FBI works to
improve the reporting of information about threats to the US.
Asked what will happen as a result of the visit. SA Renner said he will
write a report of the visit.
Cryptome said it will publish a report of the visit, including naming the
agents. Both agents expressed concern about their names being published for
that might lead to a threat against them and/or their families -- one
saying that due to copious personal databases any name can be traced.
Cryptome said the reason for publishing names of agents is so that anyone
can verify that a contact has been made, and that more public information
is needed on how FBI agents function and who they are.
Cryptome noted that on a previous occasion FBI agents had protested
publication of their names by Cryptome.
Cryptome did not agree to report anything to the FBI that is not available
on the website.
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