file a brief - ACLU of Northern California

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 1
II. FACTUAL BACKGROUND ............................................................................................. 2
III. ARGUMENT ...................................................................................................................... 4
A. THE SUBPOENAS VIOLATE THE FIRST AMENDMENT BECAUSE THEY
SEEK EXPRESSIVE AND ASSOCIATIONAL INFORMATION BUT ARE
OVERBROAD ........................................................................................................ 4
1. The First Amendment Provides a Qualified Privilege Against Compelled
Disclosure of Speech and Associational Activity ....................................... 5
2. The Subpoenas Must Satisfy Britt Because They Implicate First
Amendment Interests. ................................................................................. 7
3. The Subpoenas Are Not Narrowly Drawn .................................................. 8
B. THE SUBPOENAS VIOLATE THE FOURTH AMENDMENT BECAUSE
TWITTER USERS HAVE A REASONABLE EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY
IN PRIVATE COMMUNICATIONS AND ACCOUNT INFORMATION ....... 12
IV. CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................. 15
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iv
CASE NO. 12025934
APPLICATION AND [PROPOSED] BRIEF OF AMICI CURIAE ISO MOTION TO QUASH SUBPOENA BY PEOPLE TO TWITTER, INC.