stephaniekrent

@knightcolumbia@mastodon.online @peta@mas.to As we've explained, this is a clear-cut case of viewpoint discrimination, regardless of the NIH’s claims that it just wanted to limit off-topic speech. We look forward to continuing our representation of Madeline Krasno, Ryan Hartkopf, and PETA in this case. 3/3 https://knightcolumbia.org/documents/k9fcrgjq73

This proposal needs approval from the Board of Corrections, so the Board has a chance to put a stop to this nightmarish surveillance program. They’ll consider what to do at a hearing today. You can watch the meeting here: https://www.nyc.gov/site/boc/meetings/january-10-2023.page /end.

@knightcolumbia@mastodon.online @peta@mas.to The government cannot be permitted to turn its social media pages into pro-government cheering sections, but that’s exactly what happened here: the NIH has been hiding speech critical of its role in animal testing. 2/

@knightcolumbia@mastodon.online On FB and IG, the University of Wisconsin–Madison blocks words related to animal advocacy, including words tied to its own animal testing program, like the name of a primate and the University-linked center in which he is housed. It claims it’s doing so to prevent “off-topic” speech. 2/

In San Mateo County, mail sent through Smart Comms is stored for at least 7 years after the recipient has been released, and it’s kept in a searchable database accessible to law enforcement officers across the county, who can search it for any reason or no reason at all. /6

Under San Mateo County’s policy, physical mail – excluding atty comms – is forbidden in jails. Letters are routed through private for-profit co Smart Communications for scanning. Scans are accessible to the County for monitoring, reading & searching for at least 7 years. /2

Under the DOC’s proposal, people in jail awaiting trial will be deprived of original letters, drawings, + cards. People sending letters in will be surveilled – their letters will be stored in a searchable database for years, their mail accessible to NYC and to its private contractor. 2/

@knightcolumbia@mastodon.online The NIH made the same bogus argument in response to our lawsuit challenging its use of keyword blocking to suppress animal advocacy on its social media pages. Our client in that case, Madeline Krasno, is the plaintiff in this appeal. 3/ https://knightcolumbia.org/cases/peta-v-tabak

@knightcolumbia@mastodon.online As we say in our amicus brief, government actors cannot censor criticism in digital public forums under the guise of enforcing “neutral” off-topic rules. The Seventh Circuit’s decision should make that clear. 4/4 https://knightcolumbia.org/cases/krasno-v-mnookin

The policy poses a grave threat to freedom of expression, association, privacy, and religion behind bars. We’re grateful to our clients for stepping up to challenge this egregious policy & to advocacy partner Silicon Valley Debug for uncovering crucial records. /end https://knightcolumbia.org/cases/abo-comix-v-san-mateo-county

As a result, incarcerated people have lost a crucial lifeline to their families, friends and supporters. This loss hurts people on the outside, too. Many have made the difficult choice to stop sending or receiving scanned mail because of the increased surveillance. /3

Our client Kenneth Roberts used to get drawings from his daughter that he could keep and hang in his cell. Now, he gets only scans, which he can view only on shared tablets, in public spaces, during limited rec time – if the tablets aren’t malfunctioning due to tech issues. /4

The result is damaging to the expressive rights of people incarcerated + people who are not. It is difficult enough to communicate and maintain relationships during periods of incarceration; mail digitization enacts barriers that make meaningful communication through mail all but impossible. 3/

This should be enough to make anyone pause, but there’s also little evidence suggesting mail digitization would help the DOC achieve its goal of addressing drugs in Rikers. In fact, in places like Missouri, overdoses went up after mail digitization was adopted statewide. 4/ https://www.newstribune.com/news/2022/oct/18/overdoses-in-missouri-prisons-continue-despite/