-Caveat Lector- Click Here: <A HREF="http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/9949/boal.shtml">The Village Voice: Machine Age: Subversive Inst�</A> ----- Published December 8 - 14, 1999 SUBVERSIVE INSTINCT BY MARK BOAL Times Square Riot Video Back on the Web The FBI has dropped its investigation of Mike Z., the auteur whose pulled Web site (crowdedtheater.com) became a cause c�l�bre online after a Voice story detailed the case of apparent censorship. "Our initial objective in looking into the thing was to determine, not was this something that might generate fear or panic, but was it something that was a record of a plan to carry out a riot," says James Margolin, an FBI spokesperson. Is the site dangerous? "I don't know that that's a law enforcement issue anymore." says Margolin. "Not everything that is dangerous or offensive is illegal." The agency began its investigation after receiving calls from people who thought Z.'s Blair Witch-style video about a race riot in Times Square was real. Working with the U.S. Attorney's Office, FBI agents visited Z.'s home, contacted his ISP, and had conversations with both parties that resulted in the site's removal, even though no court order had been issued. After the Voice report the Internet erupted with cries of foul play. A posting on slashdot.org drew hundreds of netizens to Z.'s defense, including offers to mirror his site, and prompted irate flames against Z.'s ISP, which initially caved in to the FBI's pressure. Other stories followed throughout the week, and�after enduring what he says was "a couple thousand dollars" in losses from flames, and learning that the FBI had no legal basis to act�Mark Wieger, the owner of the ISP, put Z.'s site back online. Wieger is talking to the ACLU about potential legal action against the FBI for threatening him with punitive action. The FBI denies extralegal maneuvers. Asked by the Voice to provide evidence that there was no coercion, Margolin said, "I can't. You have to take it on faith." Tell us what you think. [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----- Aloha, He'Ping, Om, Shalom, Salaam. Em Hotep, Peace Be, Omnia Bona Bonis, All My Relations. Adieu, Adios, Aloha. Amen. Roads End ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Features | CityState | Hot Spot | Letters | Machine Age | Nation | NY Mirror | Sports | Art | Books | Dance | Film | Music | Theater | Classifieds | Person als | Eats | About Us | Contact Us | Home LA Weekly | Seattle Weekly | City Pages | Cleveland Free Times | Long Island Voice | OC Weekly Copyright � 1999 VV Publishing Corporation, 36 Cooper Square, New York, NY 10003 The Village Voice and Voice are registered trademarks. All rights reserved. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
