Crackdown on Lavabit violated Constitution, ACLU and EFF claimOpponents of the United States government’s use of subpoenas to compromise an encrypted email service call the court’s actions unreasonable and unnecessary, and say the result of the catastrophic security event is a chilling effect felt around the world.

SWAT team raids investigative journalist’s home, confiscates confidential DHS filesReuters/Jessica Rinaldi An investigative journalist says federal agents raided her home earlier this year and confiscated the notes she used to report on a government cover-up. Now she fears her sources have been compromised.

‘They treat us like animals!’ Dozens of US cities unite in protests against police brutalityDozens of cities across the US have seen a national day of protest against police brutality. Organizers stated that thousands of people were killed in crackdowns over the last couple of decades, and police aren’t held accountable for the violence. All across the US people united to protest police violence in rallies.

Guantanamo judge urged to lift ban on claims of abuseCredit: Reuters/Deborah Gembara A view of a common area at the medium security prison inside Camp IV at the detention facility in Guantanamo Bay U.S. Naval Base August 4, 2009. A “gag order” from the tribunal’s judge violates the United Nations Convention Against Torture, the attorneys say.

Rand Paul proposes constitutional amendment barring government officials from being above the lawSenator Rand Paul doesn’t want government officials to receive any sort of special treatment, and a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution courtesy of the Kentucky Republican could accomplish just that. Sen. Paul’s office announced on Monday that the lawmaker introduced a Constitutional amendment in Washington last week “that would hold government officials to the same standard as the American people.”

US citizen sues government after being detained by immigration officials for 7 monthsAFP Photo / Jose Cabezas A 33-year-old Filipino woman who came to the United States as a child and was quickly granted full American citizenship is suing the US government after being detained in prison for almost seven months and threatened with deportation.

Drone strikes by US may violate international law, says UNA United Nations investigation has so far identified 33 drone strikes around the world that have resulted in civilian casualties and may have violated international humanitarian law. The report by the UN’s special rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism, Ben Emmerson QC, calls on the US to declassify information about operations co-ordinated by the CIA and clarify its positon on the legality of unmanned aerial attacks.

Washington state sues lobbying group opposed to GMO food labeling effortReuters / Ints Kalnins A lobbying group for major US manufacturers has violated Washington state campaign finance law while opposing a ballot initiative that would require labeling genetically-modified foods, according to a lawsuit filed by the state attorney general Wednesday.

EFF Files Brief to Reveal the DEA’s Secret Use of Electronic Surveillance in Criminal CasesGiven the recent revelations about just how pervasive the government’s electronic surveillance has been, it’s no surprise these surveillance programs are popping up in criminal cases, as defense attorneys are finding gaps in how the government collected particular pieces of electronic evidence on their clients.

14 Caribbean nations sue Britain, Holland and France for slavery reparations that could cost hundreds of billions of poundsCountries demanding compensation for ‘awful’ legacy of Atlantic trade Have hired lawyers who won pay-out for Kenyans tortured in the 1950s Britain compensated slave owners £20m in 1834 – equal to £200bn today Idea of reparations in the U.S.