NightJack update and round up
Following the Times notable victory over decency yesterday they’ve graciously allowed NightJack to respond in an article I can’t help but feel is very reminiscent of a communist show trial where the accused is allowed to publicly confess their sins and misdemeanors. The tactics he describes the Times using are also very reminiscent of those used to expose Girl with a one track mind, so they definitely have form on this one. speaking of having form it would seem that the Mendacious Patrick Foster, that fearless journalist so desperate to move on from the celebrity pages he’s prepared to sacrifice the career of a decent man to do so, also has form for hacking and covertly filming people having sex – which I think clearly tells us his views on peoples privacy. Whilst as many have pointed out no one has a right to privacy and on the internet probably not a lot of expectation of it either, that still doesn’t make the Times actions in any way justifiable. However there is one very slim upside from this as noted by Anna Raccoon there is now some precedent for investigating and publishing identifying material relating to a serving police office as prohibited by the counter terrorism act 2008.
Update
Daniel Finkelstein responds, and another Times journalist expresses mixed feelings.
Round up of other blogs
- Samiz Data publishes NightJacks very useful guide
- as does Old Holborn
- Old Holborn again on the usefulness of pen names
- And there was me thinking has some choice words for Mr Foster
- The republic of Mortimer mourns NightJacks passing
- Obnoxio is as forthright as usual
- Nun On casters ponders Justice Eadys double standards
- And then he said is also a tad peeved
- Sharpes Opinion provides a thoughtful partial defense
- SaltedSlug is also not impressed.
- Patently Rubbish compares and contrasts to Gordons views on secret inquiries
- Letters from a Tory asks if anonymous blogging is under threat
- Obsolete ponders the effects this will have on anonymous sources
- Leg Iron suspects it wasn’t the publics interest the Times was interested in
- Simbits suspects this will drive people away from blogging
- Libertarian Alliance ask Patrick Foster who?
- Curly’s corner shop also has good round up
- Fleet street blues thinks the Times actions were fine, but please don’t expose them
- Monday Books publisher of other Police bloggers covers events in some detail
- Enemies of reason wonders what the purpose was
- Gary Andrews is another blogger wondering why NightJack needed to be exposed
- Digital Britain see’s it as part of the big Vs little media battle
- On Line journalism regrets the effect the Times actions will have on other public service bloggers
- Random Acts of Reality gives a response as another public service blogger
- Paper house also notes how judges declare themselves deserving of the privacy they denied NightJack
- My doubts writes an open letter to the Times
- Charles Crawford is not worked up
- PC Bloggs isn’t too impressed by Mr Finkelstein’s response
- Inspector Gadget notes that the times is in favour of Anonymous Iranian bloggers
- Even Tom Harris is decrying the Times actions.
- The Guardian reports that NightJacks credentials had already been checked
More updates as I find them.
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UK terror threat status
- Severe 2010/01/25
[...] 3: NightJack himself has written a piece in The Times on the story behind the case. Anonymong describes it as “reminiscent of a communist show trial where the accused is allowed to publicly confess [...]