Lavabit shutdown by government because of withholding privacy information

[Unity+]

 

My Fellow Users,

I have been forced to make a difficult decision: to become complicit in crimes against the American people or walk away from nearly ten years of hard work by shutting down Lavabit. After significant soul searching, I have decided to suspend operations. I wish that I could legally share with you the events that led to my decision. I cannot. I feel you deserve to know what’s going on--the first amendment is supposed to guarantee me the freedom to speak out in situations like this. Unfortunately, Congress has passed laws that say otherwise. As things currently stand, I cannot share my experiences over the last six weeks, even though I have twice made the appropriate requests.

What’s going to happen now? We’ve already started preparing the paperwork needed to continue to fight for the Constitution in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. A favorable decision would allow me resurrect Lavabit as an American company.

This experience has taught me one very important lesson: without congressional action or a strong judicial precedent, I would _strongly_ recommend against anyone trusting their private data to a company with physical ties to the United States.

http://lavabit.com/

 

Because it was found that Snowden had used this e-mail service the government forced the owner of Lavabit to close it's doors. Silent Circle also stopped because of this event.

 

I feel the people should be doing something now. Clearly the government is after Snowden for some reason and it is affecting the internet's ability to spread information freely without government intervention. If the government can do this, then the government can declare what scientific research should be released and what is not to be, if it could help countries with poverty and such. What does everyone think of this?

[swansont]

Clearly the government is after Snowden for some reason

Leaking classified material? Maybe?

[Unity+]

Leaking classified material? Maybe?

Well, my point is that the government is after Snowden because he witnessed the government spying on American citizens and decided to do something about it.