Espionage and Sedition Acts

In The Hesperus Prophecy, the U.S. military’s top-secret report, codenamed Cracked Snowglobe, details the SS Valencia’s activities and untimely demise. This report is intended for Malin Craig, the US Army Chief of Staff, and comes with a stern warning:

ANY COPIES, PHOTOGRAPHS, FACSIMILES, REPRODUCTIONS, OR VERBAL COMMUNICATION OF CONTENT HEREIN WILL BE CONSIDERED A TREASONOUS WAR CRIME AND SUBJECT TO MILITARY LEGAL JURISDICTION PER 1917 ESPIONAGE ACT and 1918 SEDITION ACT.

Simply reading the report constitutes a treasonous act, invoking the Espionage Act of 1917 and Sedition Act of 1918. These laws were passed during World War I to restrict free speech and criminalize anti-war activities. Director Bowen pauses but ultimately ignores the threat.

The Espionage Act of 1917 made it illegal to disseminate information that could hinder the war effort, allowing the U.S. Postal Service to intercept mail deemed treasonous.

The Sedition Act of 1918 made it illegal to use "disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language" about the government, Constitution, flag, or military.  

These acts violated the First Amendment’s right to free speech, but were upheld by the Supreme Court during World War I. After World War I, the Sedition Act was repealed, and while the Espionage Act is still law, the more controversial elements were removed.