Nicholas Merrill owned an ISP in NYC, was served with an FBI "National Security Letter" - along with an associated gag order.
He fought it.
Connecticut librarians received them, too, and with the gag orders as well. They fought back.
Reporter Amy Goodman is co-host of a widely admired radio (and now tv) program, Democracy Now. Loosely affiliated with WBAI/Pacifica Radio in NYC and fed to affiliates around the world. She interviewed Mr. Merrill a week ago.
Given that tens of thousands of NSLs have been served each year, many of which have been handed over to telecom and similar groups, the interview illustrates a disturbing practice.
"We begin today's show with a guest here in New York who has been under an FBI gag order for the past six years. In early 2004, an FBI agent visited Nicholas Merrill and handed him a national security letter that ordered him to hand over detailed private records about some of his customers. At the time, Merrill was running an internet service provider in New York called Calyx. "
Rest of transcript: