Columbus whistleblower lawsuit violates First Amendment, digital rights group says [Video]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A digital advocacy group has backed the cybersecurity expert who helped shine a light on the massive Columbus cyberattack, accusing city officials of violating his rights.

After suing Connor Goodwolf for showing reporters what was publicly available in a dark web leak by the Rhysida ransomware group, City Attorney Zach Klein said over and over at a news conference that this is not about free speech, but rather about stopping him from accessing the stolen data. On Thursday, a Franklin County judge approved a temporary restraining order stopping Connor Goodwolf from accessing, downloading, or disseminating stolen city data.

Experts from the Electronic Frontier Foundation — a nonprofit focused on defending civil liberties in the digital world and user privacy — spoke with NBC4 about Goodwolf’s situation. The groups’ lawyers step in on certain cases, including representing a parent facing a copyright lawsuit from LifeWise.

EFF Free Speech and Transparency Litigation Director Aaron Mackey hasn’t confirmed …