Feds Fight Ruling on Security Letters

Also via Michael Geist: Feds Fight Ruling on Security Letters

"The U.S. government on Monday appealed a ruling that the government shouldn't be able to get personal phone, e-mail and financial records without a judge's approval.

The USA Patriot Act prevents Internet service providers from telling their customers — here or abroad, citizens or not — if the government has demanded private information from them.

The government's decision to appeal the September ruling by U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero prompted the American Civil Liberties Union to put out a release quoting the unidentified plaintiff in the lawsuit.

Identified only as the president of a small Internet service provider who has faced a gag order for more than three years, the plaintiff complained that the statutes in the act "give the government far too much power and that the secrecy surrounding the statutes is excessive.""