BFL subpoena

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Well, I don't see why the "BFL" account (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=44366) was not included in the subpoena. Am I missing something?

Edit: Anyone!?

[r3wt]

I wonder when they will be requesting info on bcp19's alts. He's posted under:

Pokokohua!
badgerkiller
bcpokey
DaBitcoinGuy

Maybe a couple others I can't remember, but the guy just totally lost his mind (probably because of the subpoena) and revealed his latest alt account. Meh, par for the course when BFL is involved.

Here's what i know about bcp19

I said something about BFL being a scam. then i got some pretty new red paint on my trust profile

[b!z]

Exclusive interview with Theymos: "I think that I fought for user privacy much more vigorously than most sites would in this situation, and I still had to release a lot of private data."

http://www.coinbuzz.com/2015/04/17/bitcoin-forum-gives-600-peoples-private-info-to-us-government/

[dogie]

Exclusive interview with Theymos: "I think that I fought for user privacy much more vigorously than most sites would in this situation, and I still had to release a lot of private data."

http://www.coinbuzz.com/2015/04/17/bitcoin-forum-gives-600-peoples-private-info-to-us-government/

In case of DDOS, mobile, refusal to support coinbuzz etc:

The administrator of the world’s most popular bitcoin forum, bitcointalk.org, told users that he was forced by a subpoena to release 600 people’s private messages.

Michael Marquadt, a.k.a. theymos, told affected users that he would mark the information as confidential, but that may not be enough to keep it from going public. He goes on to clarify in the message, “In particular, I believe that BFL has full access to the PMs and could choose to release them.”

The bulk message was sent out to anyone who interacted with the Butterfly Labs staff accounts on the forums. Any messages – even deleted ones – sent to the following accounts may have been released:

    Inaba
    BFL-Engineer
    BFL_Josh
    SLok
    BFL_Sonny
    BFL AM
    Dave
    bcp19
    nibbknot

Forum administrator responds

CoinBuzz reached out to Marquadt (theymos) for more information:

When were you asked to release the PMs?

The subpoena is dated March 3.

Whom were you asked by?

Subpoenas are always sent by a government, usually a court. You can’t just go and send someone a subpoena. This one was issued by the US District Court for the District of Kansas. It is related to case number 14-CV-2159-KHV-JPO.

Are you concerned about what might be done with the PMs you provided?

Yes. That’s why I spent so much time/money reducing the number of PMs I would have to release to the bare minimum. (The subpoena originally requested all PMs that even mentioned BFL, from/to anyone.) Only PMs to/from a few people who (apparently) are/were BFL employees were released. The PMs are also covered by a protective order, which should make it somewhat more difficult for the PMs to become public.

Even though I want to protect forum PMs as much as I can, users of any website should be aware that it is basically impossible for any service to completely protect data that you give them access to. For example, if Google received a similar subpeona saying, “Give us all GMail emails talking about BFL,” it seems plausible to me that they might give up this info without any fight at all, and maybe not even tell the affected users about it.

I think that I fought for user privacy much more vigorously than most sites would in this situation, and I still had to release a lot of private data. Therefore, you should always securely encrypt sensitive information before putting it on the Internet. Don’t trust third-parties with anything important.

Are you concerned about how BFL might respond to this?

I treated both BFL and the plantiff fairly here. They don’t have any reason to be upset with me.

I am somewhat concerned that BFL could get some info about people who were anti-BFL and use this against them somehow. For example, perhaps some of released PMs show that an ex-BFL-employee broke an NDA. (This is just an example — I haven’t actually read most of the released PMs, and I didn’t observe anything like this in what I did read.) This is unavoidable, unfortunately.

What is your opinion on Butterfly Labs in general?

As far as I know, they accepted substantial preorders and then failed to deliver in any reasonable timeframe. This is very bad. But whether this was due to bad luck, incompetence, or malice, I don’t know.
The long and troubled past of ButterFfy Labs

Butterfly Labs are perhaps the most infamous company in the Bitcoin space. For years they’ve been the centre of controversy, due to their long history of false promises, unreasonable delays, and unpopular customer service. In September of 2014 the mining hardware manufacturers were shut down by the Federal Trade Commission. They proceeded to reopen in January and set a timetable for shipping their Monarch hardware and issuing refunds to some customers, but this recent development suggests that they are still being investigated.

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Here's what i know about bcp19

I said something about BFL being a scam. then i got some pretty new red paint on my trust profile

Dude, take a look at Blazr's stats history by activity. Guess what shows up? Nah, I'll tell you: Korean. Who also knows Korean, is in love with himself and BFL and held a bullshit contest? Josh Zerlan.

Now where is my cookie?

[Quickseller]

Here's what i know about bcp19

I said something about BFL being a scam. then i got some pretty new red paint on my trust profile

Dude, take a look at that account's stats history by activity. Guess what shows up? Nah, I'll tell you: Korean. Who also knows Korean, is in love with himself and BFL, and held a bullshit contest? Josh Zerlan.

Now where is my cookie?

Blazr is too smart to be BFL_josh. They also live in different countries/continents/extremely distant time zones.

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Blazr is too smart to be BFL_josh. They also live in different countries/continents/extremely distant time zones.

Hrm, the "too smart" bit doesn't seem to jive but thanks for the alternate POV.

[r3wt]

Well, I don't see why the "BFL" account (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=44366) was not included in the subpoena. Am I missing something?

Edit: Anyone!?

Probably because that account hasn't had activity since 2013, but who can really say for certain.

[r3wt]

Here's what i know about bcp19

I said something about BFL being a scam. then i got some pretty new red paint on my trust profile

Dude, take a look at Blazr's stats history by activity. Guess what shows up? Nah, I'll tell you: Korean. Who also knows Korean, is in love with himself and BFL and held a bullshit contest? Josh Zerlan.

Now where is my cookie?

I'm not into lying, so i'll be honest and say that Blazr's feedback on my profile is atleast partially earned through past transgressions by myself. In the context of this discussion, i'd say that Blazr's feedback had nothing to do with BFL, and more to do with me not being able to let a sleeping dog lie.

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Well, I don't see why the "BFL" account (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=44366) was not included in the subpoena. Am I missing something?

Edit: Anyone!?

Probably because that account hasn't had activity since 2013, but who can really say for certain.

But, but the time period for the subpoena is from mid-2011 to now, so it remains inexplicable that it wouldn't be included, especially given who I (and many others) think operated that account.

[Bicknellski]

I wonder when they will be requesting info on bcp19's alts. He's posted under:

Pokokohua!
badgerkiller
bcpokey
DaBitcoinGuy

Maybe a couple others I can't remember, but the guy just totally lost his mind (probably because of the subpoena) and revealed his latest alt account. Meh, par for the course when BFL is involved.

Just check my trust for that complete list.

[Xian01]

Can you upload the subpoeana here in the forum (as the other one, the silkroad subpoena?) thanks.

Subpoena for Bitcointalk information -- http://ia801803.us.archive.org/33/items/gov.uscourts.ksd.97083/gov.uscourts.ksd.97083.68.1.pdf

"Alexander et al v. BF Labs Inc." - http://ia801803.us.archive.org/33/items/gov.uscourts.ksd.97083/gov.uscourts.ksd.97083.docket.html

[Muhammed Zakir]

Can you upload the subpoeana here in the forum (as the other one, the silkroad subpoena?) thanks.

Subpoena for Bitcointalk information -- http://ia801803.us.archive.org/33/items/gov.uscourts.ksd.97083/gov.uscourts.ksd.97083.68.1.pdf

"Alexander et al v. BF Labs Inc." - http://ia801803.us.archive.org/33/items/gov.uscourts.ksd.97083/gov.uscourts.ksd.97083.docket.html

Thank you.

So not only keyword "BFL" but there are more. It will be a big pain for theymos.

Target Keywords: BFL
BF Labs Butterfly Labs Vleisides
Zerlan
Ownby
Ghoseiri
eclipse
butterflylabs.com
eclipsemc.com
monarch
jalapeno
nimbusmining

[Last of the V8s]

@op do you have plans to leave that jurisdiction?

[QuestionAuthority]

Can you upload the subpoeana here in the forum (as the other one, the silkroad subpoena?) thanks.

Subpoena for Bitcointalk information -- http://ia801803.us.archive.org/33/items/gov.uscourts.ksd.97083/gov.uscourts.ksd.97083.68.1.pdf

"Alexander et al v. BF Labs Inc." - http://ia801803.us.archive.org/33/items/gov.uscourts.ksd.97083/gov.uscourts.ksd.97083.docket.html

I'm pretty sure nibbknot is Bruno's sock. Bruno didn't work for BFL, did he?

[redsn0w]

Can you upload the subpoeana here in the forum (as the other one, the silkroad subpoena?) thanks.

Subpoena for Bitcointalk information -- http://ia801803.us.archive.org/33/items/gov.uscourts.ksd.97083/gov.uscourts.ksd.97083.68.1.pdf

"Alexander et al v. BF Labs Inc." - http://ia801803.us.archive.org/33/items/gov.uscourts.ksd.97083/gov.uscourts.ksd.97083.docket.html

Thanks for the links .

....
So not only keyword "BFL" but there are more. It will be a big pain for theymos.

Target Keywords: BFL
BF Labs Butterfly Labs Vleisides
Zerlan
Ownby
Ghoseiri
eclipse
butterflylabs.com
eclipsemc.com
monarch
jalapeno
nimbusmining

It seems all words "related" with BFL...

[sbogovac]

[...] when the Government needs any info, it's hard to convince them. [...]

Huh... What's you talking about? What does government have to do with this? Did you even read the subpoena (let alone the rest of this thread before posting)?

[erikalui]

[...] when the Government needs any info, it's hard to convince them. [...]

Huh... What's you talking about? What does government have to do with this? Did you even read the subpoena (let alone the rest of this thread before posting)?

I just found this: http://www.plainsite.org/dockets/download.html?id=176216470&z=77fe495b

And this http://ia801803.us.archive.org/33/items/gov.uscourts.ksd.97083/gov.uscourts.ksd.97083.68.1.pdf

I thought it is the Government agency who issued this.  

If you know better than me, then would you mind explaining when the following are the Target accounts:

BFL_Josh
BFL_Sonny
BFL-Engineer
Inaba
BFL AM Dave
bcp19
nibbknot
SLok

Why did they ask for all the posts that mentioned that term?

They think all posts and PMs will be helpful for their investigation but theymos has reduced it(according to OP).

P.S.

=snip=
The subpoena originally demanded all PMs that even mentioned BFL, which is ridiculous, but I managed to get this part eliminated.
 =snip=

I read that in the first post but my concern was if they want to take any action on the users that just used the terms or they are only interested in the BFL employees-/ex employees posts.

[Muhammed Zakir]

[...] when the Government needs any info, it's hard to convince them. [...]

Huh... What's you talking about? What does government have to do with this? Did you even read the subpoena (let alone the rest of this thread before posting)?

I just found this: http://www.plainsite.org/dockets/download.html?id=176216470&z=77fe495b

And this http://ia801803.us.archive.org/33/items/gov.uscourts.ksd.97083/gov.uscourts.ksd.97083.68.1.pdf

I thought it is the Government agency who issued this. 

If you know better than me, then would you mind explaining when the following are the Target accounts:

BFL_Josh
BFL_Sonny
BFL-Engineer
Inaba
BFL AM Dave
bcp19
nibbknot
SLok

Why did they ask for all the posts that mentioned that term?

They think all posts and PMs will be helpful for their investigation but theymos has reduced it(according to OP).

P.S.

=snip=
The subpoena originally demanded all PMs that even mentioned BFL, which is ridiculous, but I managed to get this part eliminated.
 =snip=

[sbogovac]

[...] when the Government needs any info, it's hard to convince them. [...]

Huh... What's you talking about? What does government have to do with this? Did you even read the subpoena (let alone the rest of this thread before posting)?

I just found this: http://www.plainsite.org/dockets/download.html?id=176216470&z=77fe495b

And this http://ia801803.us.archive.org/33/items/gov.uscourts.ksd.97083/gov.uscourts.ksd.97083.68.1.pdf

I thought it is the Government agency who issued this.  [...]

As you can reed on the first page of the subpoena it were: KYLE ALEXANDER, and  DYLAN SYMINGTON of the WOOD LAW FIRM that requested it.

(And if you Google WOOD LAW FIRM and BFL together, what do you get...?)