Gizmodo Editor’s Tech Gear Seized

Unless you were truly living under a rock last week, chances are great that you’ve at least heard of the iPhone 4G, and possibly even the huge scandal that’s been surrounding it. Things all began when Gizmodo acquired a prototype of the phone (paying $5,000 for it) and then posted a thorough look at the hardware, inside and out. All the while, Apple kept pretty quiet.

The saying “calm before the storm” seems to apply well here. All last week, Apple remained mum, except to e-mail a Gizmodo editor to ask for the device back. Apparently things weren’t going to end there. Instead, various members of the California Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team (no joke) entered the house of the Gizmodo editor whom previewed the device, Jason Chen, and took a lot of equipment with them, including four computers, two servers, and various other electronics.

Many speculate that Apple is behind this action, and I think it’s safe to say that would be true. After all, I can’t see an electronic SWAT team showing up just for fun (although, who knows?). Either way, the entire situation has raised a big issue about journalists and/or bloggers. There’s a law in California that essentially states that a journalist doesn’t have to reveal a source, and now Gizmodo, in particular Gaby Darbyshire, is arguing that very fact.

As it seems now, the investigation is on hold until something is decided upon. The big argument at the moment is whether or not a blogger is a journalist, because that could potentially alter the outcome. According to many, journalist and blogger are not one in the same. Even at certain conferences, such as CES, bloggers and editors/journalists are categorized differently.

Above all, the actual result of this entire investigation should be interesting, if it’s to proceed. Gizmodo purchased the iPhone which was essentially stolen, but the site was unaware of that at the time. It also returned the phone at the first request. It seems like this is going to be a complicated one to conclude upon…

Last Friday night, California’s Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team entered editor Jason Chen’s home without him present, seizing four computers and two servers. They did so using a warrant by Judge of Superior Court of San Mateo. According to Gaby Darbyshire, COO of Gawker Media LLC, the search warrant to remove these computers was invalid under section 1524(g) of the California Penal Code.