Firm Formerly Known as Blackwater to Pay Millions in Fines
Now known as Academi, the company agrees it violated arms exporting laws.
Civil Liberties
"Never Mind that Stop and Frisk Thing": San Francisco Mayor
Ed Lee decides against bringing racial profiling to the bay area.
"Like" Is Free Speech, Court Told
ACLU and Facebook challenge judge's ruling that "liking" something online is not an act of free expression
Red-Light Tickets Based on Fraud, Says Lawsuit
Emails reveal camera-vendor employees illegally approved citations under a police officer's name and without his knowledge
Torture Info OK for Canada
Like their U.S. counterparts, officials in the Great White North won't officially use coercive techniques, but they reserve the right to accept any data obtained that way by others
Chicago Cop Worked for Gang
Former officer admits he used his badge on behalf of the Latin Kings
NYPD Has It Backwards on Photography
Happy to film the public, New York cops don't like it when the tables turn
Bible Study Raid a Sign of Overcriminalization
Building codes didn't permit gatherings, so cops intervened - and that's just the tip of the iceberg
UK Patient Data To Be Mined for Research
Those using the National Health Service will have to opt-out or else become research subjects
Administration Appeals Ban on Indefinite Detention
Provision of NDAA ruled unconstitutional in May would be revived if White House prevails
Damage Settlement Repealed in Wiretapping Case
Lawyers of an Islamic charity who claimed that they were wiretapped cannot recover damages according to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
TSA "We The People" Petition Passes 20,000 Signatures
The petition must receive 25,000 signatures before August 9 for the White House to respond.
Buck-Passing At Facebook
The Advertising Standards Board has ruled that businesses are responsible for comments on their Facebook pages.
Ban on "F*** the Tax" T-Shirt Upheld
Man who wore the shirt to a Board of Supervisors meeting has lost his most recent appeal.
Free Speech Zones for Dead Troops: Westboro Nuts Inspire Federal Legislation
President Barack Obama signs legislation to restrict protests at military funerals. The rest of us will just have to manage.
Anti-Gay Marriage Advocates Face Penalties
Prop 8 Organizers are looking at $49,000 of fines after over $1 million worth of contributions were not properly reported to state officials.
Pro-Pot Legalization Campaign Airing Ads in Washington
New Approach Washington has spent $1 million on air time ahead of the upcoming legalization ballot initiative.
Wade Michael Page a "Precious Little Boy"
Mother of white supremacist gunman describes her son as "soft spoken" and "fun loving".
ACLU May Sue School Over Mandatory Pregnancy Tests
A Louisiana charter school currently requires pregnancy tests be conducted and kicks out pregnant students.
Seven Cameroonian Athletes Disappear From Olympic Village
They are believed to have absconded in order to stay in Europe. So much for national pride
Death Row Inmate Wins Right to Be Executed
He wants to die, rejecting clemency by Oregon's governor
NYPD to Subpoeana Twitter over Tweeted Theater Threat
Twit threatened attack on midtown theater, Twitter says the message doesn't meet its threshold for voluntary disclosure to law enforcement
Law Limits Protests at Military Funerals
In a move aimed at the camera-hungry Westboro Baptist Church, President Obama signed a constitutionally iffy law restricting protests at funerals of service members
Mexicans Protest Smooching Arrest
Forget Chick-fil-A, after a man was busted for kissing his girlfriend in Leon, Mexico, outraged residents locked lips in protest
Pussy Riot Trial "Medieval" Says Tycoon
Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the tycoon jailed for largely political reasons, says the punk rock activists face the equivalent of a medieval inquisition
MegaUpload Head Describes Police Raid
The embattled tech entrepreneur says he was punched and kicked after surrendering
Rape Charge for New York City Cop
The officer is accused of using a gun and knife to attack a former girlfriend
Aussie Pol Attacked for Supporting Free Speech
Opposition leader Tony Abbott wants to ditch "hate speech" laws on free speech grounds, but the Australian government disagrees
Students Need Free Speech Guidance
Modern technology gives public exposure and potential liability to off-the-cuff comments
Civil Rights Conviction for Former Police Chief
A jury convicted the former chief of police for Omega, Georgia, of abusing a man in his custody
Dial 911 and Get Tasered
Lashonn White, who can't hear, called police for help after she was assaulted in her home. The uniformed responders promptly attacked her, too
Settlements Reveal Brutality, Thefts by Police Unit
Minnesota's now-defunct Metro Gang Strike Force lives on in the compensation still being paid to its victims
Shakedown-Artist Cops Agree To Reform
Police departments will videotape stops and advise drivers of right to refuse searches
Court Allows GPS Tracking Evidence
Even without a warrant, data from the trackers can be admitted in some cases
"Hate Speech" Targeted at University of California
A wide range of controversial expression would be banned in response to protests aimed at Israel
No Vote on Traffic Cameras
A California judge says Murrieta residents have no right to take their objections to red-light cameras to the polls
Malaysian Trial Opens over "Un-Islamic" Book
Woman faces two-year term over book considered offensive to Islam
