WikiLeaks Lawyers Question Google’s Decision to Hand Over Emails, Metadata to DOJ

WikiLeaks’ lawyers sent a letter to Google and the U.S. Department of Justice Monday criticizing Google for violating the privacy and journalistic rights of its staff, after it was discovered that the company shared email content, subscriber information and other metadata for three WikiLeaks editors and journalists with the U.S. government in response to federal warrants. Investigations Editor Sarah Harrison, Section Editor Joseph Farrell and Senior Journalist and spokesperson Kristinn Hrafnsson were notified by Google in December that they were being investigated by the U.S. government on conspiracy and espionage charges, and for allegedly violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, and that Google had handed over the information pursuant to the warrants two-and-a-half years ago. WikiLeaks lawyers said they were disappointed that “Google failed to notify the warrants’ targets immediately,” since as a result the three journalists were unable to “protect their interests including their rights to privacy, association and freedom from illegal searches.” Google said it was under a gag order from the U.S. government, but WikiLeaks said the company didn’t fight the gag order, as some other organizations, such as Twitter, have successfully done in the past. WikiLeaks lawyers asked that DOJ provide a list of all the information Google disclosed, copies of court orders requiring the company to share the information and all other communications regarding the related search warrants in the case.