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June 12, 2007

ACLU Against Preventing Foreign Spies From Acquiring Sensitive Information

It isn't just Islamic terrorists the ACLU bends over backwards to assist. They'll help out any enemy of America, even if they don't know who it is.

The FBI's Boston office has been warning top universities in the area to be on the lookout for foreign spies attempting to collect sensitive data. There's no censorship involved; the FBI just wants professors to be aware of the threat so they can keep an eye on their laptops, be wary about who contacts them regarding their research, etc. As Worcester Polytechnic Institute President Dennis Berkey explains:

The general point was, if there is unnatural or unexplained interest in your research and you're nervous about it, here's how to be in touch with us.

Naturally, the ACLU disapproves. Deliberately mischaracterizing the initiative, John Reinstein of the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts whines:

Are you going to ask all the questions you want to ask if someone is out there taking notes and reporting to the FBI that you asked the question which they perceived as suspicious?

Obviously, the idea is not to prevent students from asking questions, but to prevent foreign spies from hostile countries from acquiring technology that would be used to kill Americans — which is certainly no reason for the ACLU to refrain from sniffing around looking for an opportunity to sue.