Apple attacked for attacking hacks' sources

The EFF said Apple is asking a court to get three hacks to turn over their unpublished materials to the corporation.

But, says the organisation, US online journalists are protected by the reporters privilege laws from doing that.

The case is now familiar. Apple got a local court order for subpoenas for the hacks to reveal the identities of 20 people who had, the computer firm claimed, leaked forward information.

Apple then sent a subpoena to Nfox.com, an email provider for online journalists communications. Apple wants to find out who told a journo about a product then code named Asteroid.

Instead of taking the hack head on, claims the EFF, Apple decided to try and get the hack's ISP to spill all the email beans.

But, said lawyer Kurt Osahl of the EFF, this undermines a fundamental first amendment right that protects all reporters.

Osahl continued: "If the court lets Apple get away with this, and exposes the confidences gained by these reporters, potential confidential sources will be deterred from providing information to the media, and the public will lose a vital outlet for independent news, analysis and commentary."

Many respected folk are supporting the EFF on this one.

The EFF said that reporters' privileges protect the anonymity of sources, regardless of whether third parties hold an individual journalist's records.

As we always say here in the UK when large US corporations attempt to attack journalists, at least you have a first amendment and a constitution. We're just subjects of the Queen, here in Grand Blighty. µ

* THE INQUIRER'S editor comments: Apple should really be very ashamed of itself. If it has any idea of shame, that is. It is merely a vendor of hardware and software, not the arbiter of what is, or what is not good journalism. Any American who attempts to suppress the right to free speech should hang her or his head in shame. This shows an egregious lack of principle that makes the average politician look like a comparative saint. Next thing, corporations will be demanding we hand over our printing presses.