Patriotic Decision re ISP and Telco Records

A federal district judge has struck down part of the USA Patriot Act, AP reports. That provision, challenged by the ACLU, allowed the FBI to obtain ISP and telco customer records (among other things) without a warrant or subpoena, and allowed the FBI to prohibit the target company from telling its customer that the records had been sought and disclosed.

The judge's ruling cited "constitutional principles of checks and balances and separation of powers." The government is bound to appeal.