The National Security Letter (NSL) is a potent surveillance tool that allows the government to acquire a wide swath of private information—all without a warrant. Federal investigators issue tens of thousands of them each year to banks, ISPs, car dealers, insurance companies, doctors, and you name it. The letters don't need a judge's signature and come with a gag to the recipient, forbidding the disclosure of the NSL to the public or the target. [More]Government creates the problem, government "fixes" the problem.
Ingenious.
Don't know if it's true or not, but I remember hearing of a company who though they were going to get one of the letters, and as you mentioned, you can't disclose that you've received one.
ReplyDeleteSupposedly the company had a press conference every day announcing that they had NOT received a National Security Letter. Then one day, no announcement, leaving the press to draw their own conclusions.