Re: [perry@piermont.com: The FBI Has Bugged Our Public Libraries]

[Steve Schear]

[This evening I received the following from the author of the quoted article.]

FROM Bill Olds
RE: Libraries & FBI
DATE: Nov. 6, 2002

In the interest of good journalism, I feel obligated to report the following to you.

The FBI released a letter today originally sent to the publisher of the Hartford Courant Michael J. Wolf, special agent in charge (Connecticut) says that on September 26, 2002, a search warrant was executed at the main branch of the Hartford Public Library. A specific computer ...had been used to hack into a business computer system in California for criminal purposesThe search warrant authorized seizing evidence of criminal activity from the computer. The computer was never removed from the library, nor was any software installed on this or any other computer in the Hartford Public Library by the FBI to monitor computer use.

Special Agent Wolfe of the FBI goes on to say, Mr. Olds predicates his outrageously fallacious column on the premise that the FBI has bugged Hartford library computers, and from that false premise, proceeds to draw improper conclusions and wrongfully accuses the government of violating our citizens right to privacy. It is troubling that Mr. Olds has fabricated such an unfounded column, but it is even more troubling that you elected to print it without any effort to determine whether it even had a slight ring of credibility. His column was sensational, irresponsible and most importantly untrue, and is a disservice to the readers of the Hartford Courant. In keeping the public informed, I trust that you will share this with your readers.

As a result of this letter, Hartford Courant editors asked me to attend a meeting today to discuss the matter. The director of investigative reporting was also present, and said they had spoke to the head librarian in Hartford who confirmed the FBIs version. Reporters could not find any information that supported the sources of my story. I was asked to double check with my unnamed sources, and did so this evening.

The sources have revised their report. Here is what they said tonight: At the time of the FBI visit, we were convinced that special-surveillance software was being inserted into the librarys system. There had been many discussions - from library groups and the media - that the FBI may be using library computers to track their use in the search for terrorists.

The combination of the FBIs presence in the library with a subpoena and its examination of a computer firmly persuaded us that a surveillance system was being established.

Today, in light of the head librarians explanation and the FBIs acknowledgement of the library visit, upon reflection we are no longer sure of that earlier assessment. We may have misinterpreted the events.