Steve Kurtz

Knowledge and dissemination of information plays a pivotal role in today's society, but apparently only when that knowledge is possessed and disseminated by those deemed as experts. Steve Kurtz, an amateur scientist and artist-activist headed a project that intended to make the general public aware of the questions surrounding genetically modified food. Because the questions Kurtz encouraged the public to ask was contradictory to the government's general agenda, Kurtz was prosecuted to the fullest extent and his research and projects confiscated. Kurtz's status as an amateur as well as the US PATRIOT ACT enabled this injustice to occur and to continue over such a long period of time.

Kurtz's status as an amateur scientist and artist put him in a unique position to share his research with the general public in a way that was well-received. Unfortunately, his amateurism was also partially the basis of the accusation. When police discovered research equipment in his house they called the FBI with suspicions of terrorism.

The US PATRIOT ACT allowed the government to search Kurtz's house, phone conversations and emails. They discovered that the materials in Kurtz's research came from Dr. Robert Ferrelll. Because the government had little else to go with, Kurtz and Ferrelll were both charged with mail for neglecting to fill out the necessary paperwork. Since the inception of the US PATRIOT act this "crime" carries a much stiffer penalty. In the unwarranted search of Kurtz's house they also found an invitation to his art show that included Arabic writing. This finding allowed the government to formulate an accusation of terrorism.

Because of Kurtz's status as an amateur he had little credibility as far as the FBI and other government officials were concerned. Because of his status as an activist and the nature of his research government officials were encouraged to go to extreme lengths to prosecute him, ending his research as a byproduct; and because of the US PATRIOT act the government has successfully effectively stifled Kurtz's research. Fortunately because of the overwhelming public support of his cause Kurtz's research has been stifled, but not his message.

Hopefully this case will set a precedent for other cases of this nature, which are sure to arise in the future of this age of surveillance.