Security Risks Posed by U.S. Firms Abetting Foreign Internet Operatives

As reported earlier, the feds have been threatening legal action against media companies that carry ads for online gambling sites based overseas. Today's NY Times has more on this, and says the government is going after others doing business with Internet gambling sites.

The investigation into the activities of media, public relations and technology companies relies on a controversial legal concept that holds that the American businesses, by providing advertising and other services that support Internet gambling, are "aiding and abetting" online casinos. That gives prosecutors an indirect way to attack the overseas enterprises, whose operations are illegal here but fall outside their jurisdiction.

Prosecutors have subpoened a market research analyst looking for information "not just about advertisers working with overseas Internet casinos, but also about public relations firms, consultants, banks, and software and telecommunications companies."