(October 5, 2009)In what may be the first of its kind, a man was arrested for using Twitter to notify protesters of police whereabouts in a case that shockingly violates First Amendment rights.

Elliot Madison, 41, was arrested along with another man during the G-20 summit protests in Pittsburgh in late September after police tracked them down to a motel room and discovered a makeshift communication center complete with computers, police scanners, maps and telecommunications equipment -- all which are legal and available to the general public.

They were charged with hindering prosecution, criminal use of a communication facility and possessing criminal instruments.

Unless the New York Post is withholding some information, I don't see how any of those charges can stick.

If the cops are making their whereabouts known on the public radio waves, it's not exactly a secret nor could it be hindering prosecution if someone shares that information. It would be free speech.