Say hello to Josh Wolf, the second American I know of to be jailed for blog content (the first was a hapless Middle-American who blithely snapped a photo of the hotel in which Cheney was staying, several years ago. He has since been sprung). Let’s go to the ever-reliable BoingBoing for the report:
Earlier this month, San Francisco-based blogger Josh Wolf was jailed for refusing to hand over video to the federal government. He shot the footage at a 2005 G8 protest in San Francisco.
Details about the video, why authorities wanted it, and why Wolf declined, are here. The incident is the first I know of in which a blogger has been jailed for not relinquishing content on demand.
Violet Blue writes,
There are two benefits coming up; one is this Saturday the 19th at Cafe La Boheme and another is Thursday the 24th at House of Shields — and if you can’t make it to either, donate to his legal fund. Our local politicians are fumbling around with little more than two hands and a flashlight trying to figure out what to do, and SFMike is all over it in his deatiled Civic Center post about the supes trying to pass *something* more than gas in Josh Wolf Rules (Kimo Crossman points us to video of this session here). Interesting to note that the SFPD didn’t bother to show up for the hearing, isn’t it? In case it wasn’t obvious, Josh is still in jail for refusing to hand over the video he shot — but he’s not silent, as pal Jackson West is exchanging letters (analog email) with Josh and transcribing Josh‘s mail into blog posts over at The Revolution Will Be Televised. There’s a wiki, too. Josh would love to get mail, so if you still remember what a pen is, drop him a line at:
Federal Correctional Institution – Dublin
Joshua Wolf 98005-111
5701 8th St. Camp-Parks, Unit J2
Dublin, CA 94568Link. Photo of Josh Wolf by punkmonksf.
Previously on BoingBoing:
raincoaster 
Raincoaster,
If the police ask you for video footage you have or photos etc any good citizen would hand it over. The authorities are not your enemies unless you are a criminal or you’re trying to get a tax rebate.
If a public authority has the power to inspect documents or photos / footage etc and you refuse to allow them to inspect it you are committing the crime of obstruction.
Or your objectives are none of their business…
Have you READ Boris? I mean, really. Have you READ the man? Cuz I’m wondering what you’re doing at his site?
Just because you don’t agree with legislation does not give you the right to break it. In my line of work I have the power to enter peoples places of business and inspect peoples paperwork – if they dont like it tough – they are obstructing me and we nick them – simple as! Its my job, i didn’t make the damn laws I just have to enforce them – it’s the people who make the laws via their elected representatives, the US people voted for Bush a second time – they want a War on Terror!
By the way did you apply for Boris’s job? That mega rich guy I met’s office manager got back to me, i got an interview with them in early september. So I got one definate job offer, one interview and i’m still thinking about applying to Boris
How you going?
You’re right Steven. Disagreeing with legislation in a democratic and free society does NOT give you the right to break it.
It gives you the moral obligation to challenge it in a fitting and appropriate way. For example by challenging a principle legally (and in this case, losing). There are excellent reasons for such challenges. And when the society you live in chooses to suspend your right to disagree, or protest that with which you disagree, then you have to decide whether to ramp it up or subside, muttering.
As for the “the innocent have nothing to fear” business. It’s not true, and that’s been proven time and again–even in Britain, where they’re doing a slightly better job by treating the actual terror offences as extreme-but-ordinary crimes rather than some sort of strike at the president’s penis size.
Whether it’s someone getting thrown in jail for selling glass pipes by mail or for witholding “evidence” that has not been demonstrably proven to be essential to the case, I’m awfully glad there are people willing to dig in their little heels and say “NO”!
Good luck on the job front. We all need money to buy pot and porn. In fact, could you send us some, once you’re hired?
I disagree; I’m all about the civil disobedience, as is Boris, who led several hundred people on an illegal march on Parliament. I am also for vigorously opposing laws such as this one, which presuppose that it is illegal to retain information that is publicly available. These people were demonstrating legally, in a public place. How, then, can it be illegal to possess or retain footage of the event? Only under Homeland Security and the Patriot Act-type of “guilty till proven innocent, information wants to be controlled” can such a thing be illegal, and even then it cannot be wrong.
I haven’t applied for the job yet, but if I don’t this city won’t be safe for me; everyone I know is bugging me to go after it. As for you, pick the most suitable and don’t neglect to apply for the Boris job. You’ll probably beat me; I never did finish my degree, you know.