[BANNED VIDEO REPORT] In Fall 2006, s6k:Investigates embarked on a project to demand that our public servants supply unambiguous answers to unambiguous questions. This led us to ascertain what the law was for such an effort. We decided that making calls to their offices, which we are often prompted to do, and recording the calls would be the most accurate way to have a statement from a public official that couldn't be taken out of context.

That effort was thwarted by Google banning the two videos that derived from the investigation. Our specific goal was to have clear answers of the public positions of Senators Menendez and Lautenberg on waterboarding, though other issues were discussed. They were banned in April 2009. We have no idea who made the complaint.

The Military Commissions Act was the predicate to illegal practices under U.S and International Law, which they both endorsed the policy by voting yes, in the name of their constituents. With this understanding, we believed we had the civil and legal right to ascertain and publish the conversations regarding this issue.

Below are the statues for New York and New Jersey, the states in question.

- New Jersey
N.J. Stat. 2A:156A-3: Interception of any wire, electronic or oral communication, or disclosure of the contents of such communication by someone having reason to know of the interception, is a crime. The disclosure of intercepted information is not a crime, however, if the contents of the communication have "become public knowledge or public information."

In addition, an interception is legal if the interceptor is a party to the communication, or one of the parties has given prior consent, so long as no criminal or tortious intent is present.Nonetheless, even if a person is a subscriber to a particular telephone, that person cannot consent to the recording of conversations on that telephone to which he is not a party.

- New York
N.Y Penal Law 250.00,250.05: It is a Class E felony to overhear or record a telephonic or telegraphic communication if one is not the sender or receiver, or does not have the consent of either the sender or receiver. It also is a crime for someone to overhear or record any conversation or discussion without the consent of at least one party to that conversation.

In both instances, we adhere to the letter and spirit of the law. What we asked was public information from a public official, which is the property of the public. We asked for no secret information and disclosed no classified information.

It is fundamentally wrong and unfair that Google Video decided to ban these videos.

the original story

Now that "water boarding" is a known form of torture used by the United States, the signing of the Military Commissions Act becomes that much more troublesome. Twelve Democratic Senators; Carper (DE), Johnson (SD), Landrieu (LA), Lautenberg (NJ), Lieberman (CT), Menendez (NJ), Nelson (FK), Nelson (NE), Pryor (AR), Rockefeller (WV), Salazar (CO), Stabenow (MI) voted for the bill. Starting with local Senator Frank Lautenberg, we felt they should answer specifically whether they support "water boarding." Though most will say they don't support "torture," since there's apparently no definition from a political and legal perspective in the United States, it creates a better vision of their opinions when they are asked a specific question and are expected to supply a specific answer.