WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE . . .
Regarding the online follow-up to your "Hunting the Craigslist Killer" story ("When the cops subpoena your Facebook information, here's what Facebook sends the cops," April 6), it's almost laughable that people get so upset about electronic privacy when the government can search your car, containers, and property outside your home without a search warrant. With a warrant, they can search your home. They can seize your computers and everything else you own. The government can even physically invade your body and force you to give a blood sample against your will. But you all throw a fit when they can uncover whose Facebook wall you posted on and what sort of naughty things you might be saying in a chat room. That is plainly absurd.
Now consider this: if you are accused of a very serious crime by someone who openly tells others on Facebook that you are actually innocent and admits to fabricating the offense, your defense lawyer is not able to breach Facebook's privacy policy. Facebook will not honor a subpoena from a defense lawyer, even if the materials will prove your innocence beyond a shadow of doubt. Facebook will only honor a subpoena from the government. And if your defense lawyer or a private investigator sends a "friend request" to the liar to see the wall posts that the liar is posting on the Facebook wall, your defense lawyer will get in trouble, according to at least some courts.
William Maze
Livonia, MI
Related:
Phantom Gourmet kisses ass, defends Upper Crust, We hear that, Carry on, More 
- Phantom Gourmet kisses ass, defends Upper Crust
The day after Christmas, those who follow the Phantom Gourmet's Facebook feed were treated to a provocative status update.
- We hear that
I just finished reading your article, "Voices Carry" (October 21). Thank you so much for writing about this very important topic.
- Carry on
I wanted to tell you how much I admired your cover article in the October 21 Boston Phoenix ("Voices Carry").
- Occupy, more occupy, even more occupy
I just read your article about the Occupy New Hampshire primary event ("A Wedding and Four Funerals," January 13).
- Open your mind
I simply love bass — there is nothing wrong with that.
- Letters to the Boston editors, February 17, 2012
Regarding your recent "House of Incorrections" story (Talking Politics, February 3), I think it would be more believable if some criminal-justice experts were quoted.
- Sorry state, changing times
You can't expect a university that helped to fund a speaker who downplays the Holocaust and mocks Jewish students before and during his speech to denounce something they have zero relation to.
- Letters to the Boston editors, March 23, 2012
The hypocrisy from the left is breathtaking.
- More teaching points
The Boston Teachers Union (BTU) is not obscene (see "Q: Who Hates School Reform?" Editorial, March 23).
- Father knows best
Thanks for your "I was a teenage Gramlich" article (April 6). Ned Gramlich was my father.
- For your consideration
I'm curious about the inconsistency of the 2012 Boston Phoenix ballot for Best Trivia Night.
- Less
Topics:
Letters
, Boston, Facebook, privacy, More
, Boston, Facebook, privacy, News, letters, Less
