Connecticut Law Tribune: Judge Finds Against Police In Privacy Suit Detectives used unsigned warrant to obtain AOL subscriber's name by RAY B. BURTON III. v. 30; No. 8; Pg. 1 (2/23/04)
Abstract Full Text (available with subscription, Lexis)
Basically, in a local political quarrel, one side sent e-mail that could be considered threatening from an AOL account. The other side contacted the police who used the form for a subpoena and faxed it to AOL. AOL promptly released all the information and the police released this information to the local newspaper. The police and AOL were in the wrong on this one. No judge ever saw the subpoena form. While Verizon is always in the news trying to protect their customers(DMCA, not ECPA), AOL apparently sells them down the river without even a court order. The case against AOL is still pending in a Virginia court. *note: this does not mean that I like Verizon, just comparing the two. (article found via Law.com daily newsletter 2/24/04)  ¶ 9:08 AM| |cites (technorati) |