GoKawiilAppeals court orders DOJ to narrow sweeping LinkedIn journalist-data subpoena
A federal appeals court ruled that the Justice Department's request for 18 months of LinkedIn communications from numerous journalists was too broad, sweeping in confidential sources unrelated to its leak investigation into a classified military report. The three-judge panel, led by Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III, declined to void the order entirely but directed the district court to significantly narrow its scope. The ruling also noted that a year-long secrecy order had kept affected journalists unaware that their First Amendment rights were at stake.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The decision suggests courts are willing to push back against broad government data requests that could chill journalist-source relationships, even amid legitimate national security investigations. LinkedIn's argument that journalists rely on the platform to connect with sources highlights how digital platforms have become central to press freedom disputes. The ruling could set a precedent limiting how far investigators can cast their net when platforms like LinkedIn are compelled to hand over user communications.
- Appeals court ruled DOJ's subpoena for journalist LinkedIn data was overly broad
- Judges ordered narrowing of the order rather than quashing it entirely
- Year-long secrecy order left journalists unaware their data was sought, raising First Amendment concerns
Source: arstechnica.com, 2026-11-11
Published there as: “Trump admin loses fight to spy on random journalists’ LinkedIn DMs”
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