MetaChat - Read this, go to jail?

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18 October 2007

Read this, go to jail? →[More:]

Controversial sheriff Joe Arpaio (Maricopa County/Phoenix)is suing the Phoenix New Times in an attempt to gain reporters' notes. At issue are four articles that have run in the paper since 2004.

The sheriff's office is also suing the New Times to obtain information on anyone who's accessed the New Times website since 2004:

The subpoena demands: "Any and all documents containing a compilation of aggregate information about the Phoenix New Times Web site created or prepared from January 1, 2004 to the present, including but not limited to :

A) which pages visitors access or visit on the Phoenix New Times website;

B) the total number of visitors to the Phoenix New Times website;

C) information obtained from 'cookies,' including, but not limited to, authentication, tracking, and maintaining specific information about users (site preferences, contents of electronic shopping carts, etc.);

D) the Internet Protocol address of anyone that accesses the Phoenix New Times website from January 1, 2004 to the present;

E) the domain name of anyone that has accessed the Phoenix New Times website from January 1, 2004 to the present;

F) the website a user visited prior to coming to the Phoenix New Times website;

G) the date and time of a visit by a user to the Phoenix New Times website;

H) the type of browser used by each visitor (Internet Explorer, Mozilla, Netscape Navigator, Firefox, etc.) to the Phoenix New Times website; and

I) the type of operating system used by each visitor to the Phoenix New Times website."

Amazing.

post by: mudpuppie at: 13:36 | 10 comments

It really is outrageous- I'm glad they're telling the world, although they's be more credible if they toned down the purple.

Also, there's nothing "picayune" about publishing someone's home address. They should have just left that word out.

This reads like the sort of outraged letter to the editor I write when I haven't eaten yet.

Even so, I hope the judge tosses this subpoena and that other papers take up the cause and publicize it.

posted by small_ruminant 18 October | 13:45

Oh fuck, I read this at work. Are they going to subpoena my CEO now?

posted by Hugh Janus 18 October | 13:46

My impression of this sheriff.

"Hmm, first amendment? That sounds kinda familiar, something in school about that... ah,um...did it have something to do with Lincoln maybe?"

posted by King of Prontopia 18 October | 13:48

The Phoenix New Times really does have a breathless style--but they write that way about everything, so it's easy to filter out after a while. But they do a good job, I think. Their restaurant reviews are really good and their website is the best serving the Phoenix-area.

Also, the "¡Ask a Mexican!" column rocks.

posted by mullacc 18 October | 14:01

Awesome, mullacc; what a great column! Thanks, were it not for your recommendation, I'd a never seen this spot of brilliance:

Can you please explain the pecking order amongst Spanish-speaking peoples? And don’t deny that there isn’t one.
Curious Gringo

Dear Gabacho:
Sure. Mexicans on top, everyone else is a bunch of Guatemalans.

posted by Hugh Janus 18 October | 14:19

The writing was over-the-top, but the Sheriff's actions were appalling.

posted by drezdn 18 October | 14:21

I think the "Ask a Mexican" column is nationally syndicated, or something. I read it every week in the San Antonio Current.

posted by muddgirl 18 October | 14:44

Right you are, muddgirl. It's published by the OC Weekly.

posted by mullacc 18 October | 14:49

Yeah, I'd like them to send me a subpoena.

*sits smuggedly (is too a word!) in Canada*

And this Ask a Mexican column had me lol'ing.

posted by deborah 18 October | 15:04

I thought I recognized the name of this pathetic excuse for a LEO:

Arizona criminals find jail too in-'tents'

But not everyone likes him

posted by deadcowdan 18 October | 17:22

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