UPDATE: 12/21/11 4PM -BBC covers Tallbloke, finally, Richard Black still silent- Norfolk constabulary to share hand-off Climategate investigation, and Greg Laden caves – see below
Dec 14th -The first blogger to break the Climategate2 story has had a visit from the police and has had his computers seized. Tallbloke’s Talkshop first reported on CG2 due to the timing of the release being overnight in the USA. Today he was raided by six UK police (Norfolk Constabulary and Metropolitan police) and several of his computers were seized as evidence. He writes:
After surveying my ancient stack of Sun Sparcstations and PII 400 pc’s, they ended up settling for two laptops and an adsl broadband router. I’m blogging this post via my mobile.
That means his cellphone. In his blog report are all the details. including actions in the US involving WordPress and the US Department of Justice. Jeff Id at The Air Vent also has a report here.
Strange and troubling that they’d seize his computers for comments dropped onto a US service (wordpress.com) from the cloud. There wouldn’t be any record on his PC’s of the event from FOIA’s placing comments, that would be in the wordpress.com server logs.
Either there’s more than meets the eye or they have no idea how the blog system works.
UPDATE: I’ve been in contact with Roger (Tallbloke) and he tells me that he is not a suspect, and that they’ll clone his hard drives and return the computers to him. – Anthony
UPDATE2: 12/15/9AM It seems that the story has gone viral on blogs. Four skeptic blogs are in the top ten of all WordPress blogs today. While I’ve seen 2 at a time on CG1 and CG2, four has never happened before. This is from my wordpress.com dashboard:
From top to bottom, WUWT, The Air Vent, Tallbloke’s Talkshop, Climate Audit.
UPDATE3: Delingpole in the Telegraph thinks its going to escalate
UPDATE4: Horner in The Washington Examiner weighs in
UPDATE5: The Guardian picks up on the story here
UPDATE6: Jo Nova suggests it is a form of intimidation
UPDATE7: Josh weighs in with two cartoons
UPDATE8: Greg Laden on Scienceblogs accuses Tallbloke of being a “criminal” – a claim really over the line and over the top. Clearly this is outside of the Code of Conduct for Scienceblogs.com (contact page here) Of course, after reading the rant of hate this man has for anyone not like him, especially Americans in some states, I suppose it’s just another day for him. Update: I sent off a complaint to the editors of Sb about this, and it appears that Laden has been asked to remove the libelous language, though the post remains as does his hateful attitude in comments.
UPDATE9: Lord Monckton to pursue fraud charges against Climategate scientists: Will present to police the case for ‘numerous specific instances of scientific or economic fraud’
Monckton: ‘I have begun drafting a memorandum for prosecuting authorities…to establish…the existence of numerous specific instances of scientific or economic fraud in relation to the official ‘global warming’ storyline…they will act, for that is what the law requires them to do’
Story at ClimateDepot here
UPDATE10: More than a couple of people have asked me about computer security in the last couple of days, especially after the Tallbloke raid incident.
I’m offering a simple security solution for those that want to protect their files: a USB flash drive with built in hardware security. See it here
UPDATE11: A copy of the search warrant can be seen at Climate Audit
UPDATE 12: The BBC’s Richard Black is silent, probably because he can’t “… find an angle that will allow the BBC to maintain the usual warmists good, sceptics bad holding pattern”.
UPDATE13: Tallbloke apparently is going to take legal action against ScienceBlogs and blogger Greg Laden over his libelous article (now modified to not be libelous) accusing Tallbloke of being involved in criminal activity, and is soliciting barristers. Laden says on his blog in comments:
“I think he’s a criminal for being a climate denialist. Sue me. “
Looks like Greg Laden will get his wish.
UPDATE14: Rep Markey has an “off with their heads” moment, Jeff Id explains how the connections being made are preposterous.
UPDATE15: Tallbloke has decided to take the libel issue with Laden to tort. A letter from his attorney is posted.
UPDATE16: Planetsave makes another libel with the headline: “Criminal Who Manufactured Climategate Caught?” The clueless writer, Zachary Shahan, is about as far away from understanding journalism as anyone I’ve seen. He’s in for a nasty surprise as Tallbloke has added him to the tort list.
UPDATE18: UK cartoonist “Fenbeagle” has done up a Star Wars parody in the vein of The Empire Strikes Back. Mike Mann, Phil Jones, Jawas, and a Wookie are featured.
UPDATE19: Tom Nelson points out that Laden seems to have caved to impending legal action: Warmist Greg Laden: Did I say that tallbloke is a criminal? I meant he’s not a criminal. Details here
UPDATE20: Tallbloke reflects on the solstice and says that questions are starting to be asked in the UK.
UPDATE21: Tallbloke reports that:
In a sudden new development, your correspondent has learned that Norfolk Constabulary have decided that climategate is too big for them to handle. According to an un-named source, they intend to hand over the inquiry to another force.
This follows on the heels of a ‘request for a contact’ at Norfolk Constabulary by Lord Christopher Monckton in connection with his intention to have the police investigate revelations in the ‘climategate’ emails placed in the public domain.
UPDATE22: Donna LeFramboise writes in the Financial Post:
This is all rather chilling. It appears that being the proprietor of a blog in which strangers leave links pointing to material on third-party websites now exposes one to being raided by the police.
UPDATE23: The BBC finally gets around to covering the seizure episode almost a week later, unsurprisingly, the very biased Richard Black isn’t the reporter.
Does this mean that climate warming causes seizures?
I just donated at TallBloke’s Talkshop http://tallbloke.wordpress.com/
He is probably going to need a legal fund.
The UN declare themselves above the law and then the law is used to invade the home of a private citizen and confiscate personal belongings. This is deeply troubling.
If I were Anthony Watts or any other high-profile anti-warmunist, I would be installing a very robust security system and have an attorney on speed-dial.
Robert E. Phelan says:
December 14, 2011 at 7:24 pm
My guess? Look at the date on the letter, the letterhead, and the date of the “raid” on Tallbloke. This thing is originating here and the Brits were responding to a US request.>>>
You’re right, it says Dec 9th. But it is addressed to the company that owns WordPress, directing them to preserve info regarding three blogs hosted by WordPress. Now, was that because of an investigation initiated in the United States? I sort of doubt it because there’s no crime (theoretical or otherwise) to investigate in the US in the first place. My guess would be that the investigation began in the UK, and that someone there asked the US DOJ to assist in securing information that may be relevant on the WordPress servers. If there are any electronic fingerprints to be had at all, the WordPress servers would be pretty much the first place to look, and my guess is that the DOJ is just doing as asked.
Norfolk Constabulary
Norfolk Police think that everyone should feel safe and all those who want to should be able to enjoy the festive season. That’s why today’s tip of our 12 tips of Christmas includes an important message – http://bit.ly/ssET0o
What about raiding Tallbloke’s Talkshop did he feel safe – the UK in 2011 has become 1984. Positively Disgusting.
Eco fascists at work…
Now we know how the Chinese feel.
could be about leaked stuff..maybe some [SNIP: Over the top. Sorry. -REP]
A warrant and 6 (SIX!) detectives… In my little town that would be one hell of a donut party.
You’re a better man than I Tallbloke. I’d be mad like six dogs right about now!
Hmmm, it sounds like opening a blog hosting service on an anonymous Russian server may be a business opportunity worth exploring…
The Evil Empire strikes back.
We should all enjoy the free flow of information on the net while it lasts.
Oh no! Not the Warmistani climate police.
The DoJ is pretty corrupt, just look at the gunwalker scandal. AG Holder should be fired, he could be impeached.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Mann and Hansen convinced Democrats or the DoJ there is a “criminal” conspiracy to discredit him through the email leaks by the “climate denial machine”.
[SNIP: Max, really a bit provactive. -REP]
This is now serious. Of course, we had a prediction some years ago of G.B. becoming a garrison state, I think 27 years ago!
UPDATE: I’ve been in contact with Roger (Tallbloke) and he tells me that he is not a suspect, and that they’ll clone his hard drives and return the computers to him. – Anthony
================
And, wot will they provide to Tallbloke in return for the information, they gleaned from his computer.
I would imagine f-all, with a bill for the privilege.
Care to give us the details of your travails, hopefully a pint or two will be able to assuage the costs, incurred.
Just say the word.
“tallbloke on December 14, 2011 at 5:05 pm said:
They were polite and promised to return the kit after cloning the disks.
They say I am not a suspect for any crime.”
If a choice was given as to whether the disks could be taken and cloned then fine. If no choice was given then it seems that criminals and terrorists get more liberties than people who are not suspected of any crime. If so, I had better go commit a crime so I won’t be treated like a criminal.
I started wondering what the heck Title 18, United States Code, Section 2703(f) was…and google is a frightening thing sometimes:
———
(f) Requirement To Preserve Evidence.— (1) In general.— A provider of wire or electronic communication services or a remote computing service, upon the request of a governmental entity, shall take all necessary steps to preserve records and other evidence in its possession pending the issuance of a court order or other process.
(2) Period of retention.— Records referred to in paragraph (1) shall be retained for a period of 90 days, which shall be extended for an additional 90-day period upon a renewed request by the governmental entity.
——–
So….translating both the legaleeze and the technoleeze as best as I can, this isn’t actually a search warrant. It isn’t even a request for information. It is actually just an order to preserve any and all electronic information that WordPress has in regard to the specied accounts for a period of 90 days. That’s it. WordPress just got told to not delete anything they have in regard to those accounts for 90 days. If the DOJ wants to actually SEE that info, they either have to secure the cooperation of WordPress (who may very well say “no” if it violates any of their contractual agreements to do so) or come up with a search warrant giving them access.
My guess stays the same. An investigation started in the UK. Someone in the UK asked the US DOJ to help preserve any evidence that may exist in the US on the WordPress servers. If they find something meaningfull on their side of the pond, they want to ensure that regular clean up procedures dont result in lost information that might be important.
when I say “might” think “not likely” in bold, italics, underlined, 28 point font, flashing neon red.
At 8:00 PM in 14 December, davidmhoffer writes of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2703(f) his discovery that it entails:
…about which davidmhoffer considers:
Of course, this is also an order directing the owners of WordPress to change their business practices so as to make of their own computer archives a repository of material which the Department of Justice may at some time in the indefinite future want to examine.
May. An order to retain records “for a period of 90 days, which shall be extended for an additional 90-day period upon a renewed request by the governmental entity.”
Which may be further renewed at 90-day intervals until the heat death of the universe, or until Dr. Ron Paul takes the presidential oath of office in January 2013, at which time we may expect that this kind of crap will come crashing to an end.
Is WordPress going to be provided some sort of compensation for what is obviously a foreclosure of their rights to private property in the use of their computer archives?
Companies like Carbonite provide online backup services to home and business computer users at specified monthly and annual rates in order to help preserve their clients against data loss in the event of theft or device failure or malicious software “hacks,” so there is a very real monetary value for such archival services.
Is WordPress therefore compensated for the archiving being required of them under this law, or are we just looking at yet another violation of the “takings” clause of the Fifth Amendment?
tallbloke says:
December 14, 2011 at 5:05 pm
They were polite and promised to return the kit after cloning the disks.
They say I am not a suspect for any crime.
———————————————————————
TALLBLOKE: For Pete’;s sake man….get a Solicitor!!!!! Of course you are innocent darling. But you may have to prove it!!! Just make a call. You need advice. BTW…..Don’t get Rumpold. Cherie Blair maybe. Where’s D’Arcy when you need him. You need cash…..??
So, they @ur momisugly GCHQ have no idea who FOIA is. Would they help the police. Because if you believe the AGW claptrap. Which no body really does….just the cash, it’s a matter of national security. INcredible. It’s not you is it Tallbloke?? I did ask over here whether FOIA leaving a direct contact on your blog could be traced. Google no doubt keeps everything per Homeland S. and the net Mandarin gatekeepers…..@ur momisuglyl 12 of them, must keep logs incase of cyber attack by states, Wasn’t there one in the Latvia elections. Wired had a interesting article on the first true cyber attack by one Soverign country of another.
FOIA — Better run mate!
If China and India decided to co-operate in destroying planet earth; what would, we in the west, do to stop them?? How far would we go??? And if you believe AGW, how far does AGW hype go in projecting the threat to the Human species??
RockyRoad said @December 14, 2011 at 5:46 pm
CG2 must have had a bigger impact on the warmistas than we thought
I think you have it there, Rocky. Those “in the know|” and they know who they are, know what is in the other e-mails.
Pamela Gray says:
December 14, 2011 at 7:41 pm
Does this mean that climate warming causes seizures?
————————————————————————-
Ha! Good one.
Not a seizure, not a muscle spasm,….just a natural return to ,,,,,,,,,,,,, Amora !!!
Just don’t say ANYTHING to them, reserve the right to remain silent!!!
British / UK law is different in this regard.
Maybe they are looking for Mann’s decline that got lost before going to AR4 press!!!!
Gosh, but the freakin’ suspense is killing me. We’re watching in realtime, over a period of months and years, as what will one day be a 2 hour movie, unfold before us.
Reading a historical whodunnit is interesting. Watching it “live” is….excrutiatingly slow.
For all those a little worried about their security online?…
A few little tools may help…
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=incognito
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=ipcop
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=ipfire
Let this through, please, MODS? 🙂
YEp,…..i think it’s time to get the Beers in and the pop-corn machine cranking. FOIA is about to do the ‘dump that gagged the world!!’ as me gueses he’s not sitting comfortably at the mo’.
Waitaminute!!! He is “not a suspect” and they still enter his house and seize his computers. Don’t the Brit police need a warrant for that? In that case he is indeed a suspect and a magistrate has to believe he is guilty of something. Get a lawyer and get new hardware. Get the Telegraph and the Daily Mail on the line and keep us posted.