Navy SEALs Sue AP Over Alleged Abuse Photos

[Riprorin]

Navy SEALs Sue AP Over Alleged Abuse Photos

By Joe Strupp

Published: December 28, 2004 2:25 PM ET

NEW YORK Six Navy SEALs and two of their wives filed a lawsuit against The Associated Press and one of its reporters Tuesday for allegedly revealing their identities in photos published in early December, according to a press release from the plaintiffs.

The complaint, filed in California Superior Court, alleges that AP reporter Seth Hettena obtained a photograph in a personal Web site maintained by one of the wives of the Navy SEALs, which contains personal photographs.

None of the plaintiffs are named in the lawsuit, a copy of which was obtained by E&P. They are represented by attorney James W. Huston of San Diego.

Hettena allegedly removed photos from that site and published them on Dec. 4, 2004, in a story stating that the pictures "could be" the earliest evidence of possible prisoner abuse in Iraq, the plaintiffs contend. The SEALs argue that the pictures "actually depict special warfare operators' standard procedures during covert operations. The Iraqis shown being captured in the photographs were leaders of anti-coalition attacks and Saddam loyalists."

AP Director of Corporate Communications Ellen Hale declined to comment immediately to E&P, but said she would look into the matter.

"There was no need for the AP to publish the faces of the SEALs," Huston, the Morrison & Foerster partner who is heading the plaintiffs' legal team, said in a statement. "They added nothing to the value of the story. In fact, the SEALs showed more respect for the insurgents and terrorists that they were apprehending by obscuring their faces than the AP did for the Navy SEALs who were in Iraq risking their lives," he added.

Since the photos were released, they have been published widely in the Arab Press, including on Al Jazeera, the plaintiffs claim.

They are requesting injunctive relief, to preclude republishing the photographs, to preclude the publication of additional unpublished photographs, and to preclude the publication of personal photos by the Navy wife whose site was invaded, such as her wedding photos.

Navy SEALs Sue AP Over Alleged Abuse Photos

It never occured to the AP that they are endangering the lives of these SEALs and their families?

 

[Engineer]

Not arguing whether the AP is right or wrong, but I'll say this...

When are people going to learn that if they leave OPEN stuff on the Internet, people will get and possibly use it (assuming that it wasn't a site that was broken into).

OK, now back to whether the AP did anything wrong or not....next...

 

[imported_Nostromo]

The complaint, filed in California Superior Court, alleges that AP reporter Seth Hettena obtained a photograph in a personal Web site maintained by one of the wives of the Navy SEALs, which contains personal photographs.

Isn't publishing the photos on a personal website akin to putting up posters in your front yard? Anyone on the street can walk by and snap a picture of it. Password protect that site if you're concerned about your husband's security.

The AP could have blurred their faces, and the wife could have also.

 

[Riprorin]

Here'sa better article

Six SEALs sue AP, reporter

By Jennifer Harper
THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Six Navy SEALs filed a lawsuit against the Associated Press and one of its reporters yesterday, saying the news organization revealed their identities, compromised their security and invaded their privacy by publishing personal photographs in a Dec. 4 story.

The complaint says AP reporter Seth Hettena used about 40 images from the personal photo-storage Web site of a Navy SEAL wife. The AP published nine of the photos, which show the SEAL team capturing members of Saddam Hussein's loyalist forces.

An accompanying story implied the photos "could be" the earliest evidence of abuse of Iraqi prisoners.
The images were picked up by the Arab press, including Al Jazeera, and have made their way onto a billboard outside U.S. Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where detainees from the war on terror are being kept. The billboard design includes swastika symbols and accuses the SEALs of "being Nazis," according to the suit.
"It was totally reckless. These photos clearly show the guys' faces, which now put their lives at risk, and the lives of their families," said James W. Hutton, an attorney for the SEALs who filed the complaint in the Superior Court of San Diego.
AP insisted yesterday that there had been no wrongdoing.
"We believe AP's use of the photos and the manner in which they were obtained were entirely lawful and proper," said Dave Tomlin, assistant general counsel for the organization.
Mr. Hutton takes issue with AP's implication that the SEAL photos were on par with pictures showing ill treatment of prisoners by U.S. Army personnel in Iraq's Abu Ghraib facility.
"These photos do not show any prisoner abuse," Mr. Hutton said, but depict "standard procedures during covert actions."
He also noted an ironic twist: The AP story quoted a Navy source who said that revealing the name or face of special warfare operators could endanger them and their families.
"The SEAL photos had obscured the faces of the insurgents. But when the AP published them, they did not bother to obscure the faces of the SEALs. They did not give the Americans the same respect as the insurgents. It's inexcusable and unprofessional," Mr. Hutton said.
"There was no need for the AP to publish the faces of the SEALs. They added nothing to the value of the story."
Mr. Hutton said the six SEALs have been receiving abusive phone calls and that at least one of the wives has been followed. He also said some Arab-language Web sites are "calling for action" against the SEALs.
Several of them are on active duty in Iraq.
"We are very disappointed in this reporter's unprofessional behavior and the fact that he showed such disregard for us, our safety, and the ongoing work we are doing," one of the SEALs said. "This risk is now greater because of Mr. Hettena, and the increased risk was completely unnecessary and preventable."
The group is asking for unspecified damage for their invasion of privacy, plus the emotional distress of two of the wives. It also has requested that the photos not be republished and "to preclude the publication of additional unpublished photographs."

Link

 

[Tab]

I have no problems with it. Faces of our soldiers are plastered eveywhere. Of course, if the indiviual who took the picture makes it look like or "influence" into making it look like they did something wrong, thats a different story.

 

[miketheidiot]

Originally posted by: Tabb
I have no problems with it. Faces of our soldiers are plastered eveywhere. Of course, if the indiviual who took the picture makes it look like or "influence" into making it look like they did something wrong, thats a different story.

The only reason they're sueing is because it proves what they did. Poor babies. Fu<k em.

 

[1EZduzit]

Originally posted by: Nostromo

The complaint, filed in California Superior Court, alleges that AP reporter Seth Hettena obtained a photograph in a personal Web site maintained by one of the wives of the Navy SEALs, which contains personal photographs.

Isn't publishing the photos on a personal website akin to putting up posters in your front yard? Anyone on the street can walk by and snap a picture of it. Password protect that site if you're concerned about your husband's security.

The AP could have blurred their faces, and the wife could have also.

What he said.

 

[halik]

ummm what exactly are they suing over ?

Those pictures were displayed publicly on the internet - so the whole "blur faces for their safety" argument falls apart. However, i can imagine them suing over libel thought, as most of those abuses are BS. The seals don't seem to be torturing anyone, i mean when you look at the pics you can tell they were taking mugshots of those guys (all the pics of their faces are lit with light off the tactical flashlights )

pics

 

[Tab]

Originally posted by: miketheidiot

Originally posted by: Tabb
I have no problems with it. Faces of our soldiers are plastered eveywhere. Of course, if the indiviual who took the picture makes it look like or "influence" into making it look like they did something wrong, thats a different story.

The only reason they're sueing is because it proves what they did. Poor babies. Fu<k em.

Let me get this straight.

They are suing AP because took a photo of the Navy Seals doing there job? :|