Freedom and privacy haven’t been the surveillance state’s only casualties: it also destroyed Lavabit, a small business that a hero named Ladar Levinson founded. Lavabit “provided email services to 410,000 people –including Edward Snowden, according to news reports – and thrived by offering features specifically designed to protect the privacy and security of its customers.” As you may recall — with amazement, I hope, since such courage and integrity are as rare as honest politicians –, Mr. Levinson shut his doors rather than betray his customers to the Feds.

Now, “for the first time,” Mr. Levinson writes about the kangaroo court and “legal” shenanigans he endured while the Feds demolished his company. Measure how far down the road to totalitarianism we have traveled by this man’s persecution — all because he refused to cooperate with tyranny. “If we allow our government to continue operating in secret,” Mr. Levinson warns, “it is only a matter of time before you or a loved one find yourself in a position like I did – standing in a secret courtroom, alone, and without any of the meaningful protections that were always supposed to be the people’s defense against an abuse of the state’s power.”

Thanks to Bill Martin for the link.

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