DreamHost, an online service provider for web hosting and cloud computing services to more than 400,000 customers worldwide, has recently launched crowdfunding efforts on CrowdJustice to fight a subpoena warrant from the Department of Justice that are requesting information for a customer’s website, disruptj30.org (aka ResistThis) which is notably an Anti-President Trump platform.
DreamHost revealed on the campaign’s website:
“DreamHost is currently fighting a warrant from the Department of Justice requesting information about a customer’s web site: disruptj20.org. These types of requests are not uncommon, and DreamHost (and other service providers) complies with them regularly. Instead of requesting information about the website’s owner, the DOJ has gone one step farther and requested access to every scrap of data DreamHost has about the website and its visitors. Emails, photos, and even server logs containing 1.3 million visitor IP addresses are included in the wide-reaching scope of the warrant. This is a highly untargeted search that stands to expose the identities of many thousands of visitors who are not the subject of criminal investigations themselves.”
The website provider stated it believes this particular records request raises strong First and Fourth Amendment issues, and is a violation of privacy for many thousands of internet users.
“The decision that is made in this case will affect not just DreamHost, but all online service providers that host customer-created content. It would change the landscape for investigators and allow them greater access to user data that may not be directly related to ongoing criminal investigations. It would also chill associational rights under our Constitution, dissuading people from freely visiting websites of their choice.”
DreamHost is currently seeking $10,000 for the efforts and will close the campaign on September 16th. Any funds that are raised after $10,000 will be donated to the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
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