Government Tells Google To Hand Over Records.

I turned on the news this morning, and heard about the United States Government wants Google to turn over it's search records. I'm sure you all know, but in case you've been living in a cave for quite some time Google is an internet giant with a number of various internet services offered, the service in question its massive web-search database that gets millions if not billions of searches a day making it the largest AND most profitable search engine ever. The government went to Google and asked them to give them their database records of all searches made on Google, whenever you go onto Google your computer leaves its 'signature' in its databse along with your searches you made. In this way the government hopes to track down people using Google to locate pornography and/or terrorist related information. The government wants a judge to force Google to give over the records as Google obviously denied to release them, and if that fails they may pass a law giving themselves the right to take them.

Now I say GO GOOGLE, you ROCK and don't let the government force you to hand over your database, it's yours and we're behind you fully, this CAN be fought. In the meantime I'm going to see what I can do to support Google's rights and their privacy policy.

So in all honesty - FIGHT THE POWER! (yeah kinda lame but true)

 

 

 

Comment/Reply (w/o sign-up)

Like the U.S. government doesn't have enough resources, and infringe on honest citizens' rights enough already (i.e. the stupid PATRIOT Act crap). If they can't figure out how to track down terrorists without trying to strong-arm a search engine company, then the government as a whole is even worse than I thought it was.

Comment/Reply (w/o sign-up)

Privacy online is a myth, has always been one and privacy as a whole has not been as clearly defined as a lot of people think by SCOTUS. There is no such right granted in the consitution, it has been granted as an extention interpreted by SCOTUS in the last century. SCOTUS rulings can be over ruled at a later date: see Brown Vs. the Board of Education.

The bigger point is that Google DOES collect this data. In this case the DOJ submitted a request and Google refused. They are playing with fire because it won't take much to have a rider attached to someother bill that can change the rules. However, if they were seeking information in a criminal investigation, a court ordered supena and Google has to comply. In my experiences, if law enforcement wants information, they will usually ask nicely first. If you want to save face in the eyes of particular clients, you can say "not with a court order". So the next day they come in with a court order and we already have the info they were looking for onto disks and print outs. Actually the few interactions with the FBI I've had on those type of topics has been pleasent. They understood why we wouldn't just hand over information without a court order. We knew they'd get their court order so it was really just a technicallity on everyone's part. As our corporate attourny said: "If they come asking for it, say 'court order please' and then start getting what they want ready and have it nicely boxed so they just have to show you the document, load the boxes, and leave".

However, in most terms of use, there are specific sections that say: we will comply with law enforcement agencies" as an execption to stated privacy policies. I know all my website privacy statements carry that. Most larger companies will comply with DOJ requests because it is much easier to comply than try to fight it. Legal bills add up quickly because the first thing in house lawyers say are: hire specialists.

If the government wants the info, they'll go to a judge, or congress can supeana as well, and get what they want.

And Yes I am law student....

 

 

 

Comment/Reply (w/o sign-up)

I really hope Google doesn't have to turn over those records. I mean, the government doesn't exactly have a decent track record when it comes to dealing with terrorist "stuff." Is it a crime to display a bit of interest in a subject that obviously is extremely important? It's personally not my cup of tea, but I've been interested in learning about a few "weird" subjects myself .. and I'd hate to wake up some morning to the Feds banging on my door because I searched a little too much. As for porn? Who the heck cares? I can see the points on child porn, but anything else and it's not the Gov's business.

If they claim its to protect children, I just gotta laugh. It's not that hard for a kid to walk into a bookstore, grab a Playboy, stick it in his coat, and walk out. It's not that hard to ask an older brother or friend to buy one for you. It's not that hard to have someone check out a naughty video from the video store. This attempt to curb such things is quite retarded. If kids want to see it, they will.

Ah well, sorta got off on a tangent. Bottom line: go Google!

Comment/Reply (w/o sign-up)

I think everyone's just jealous how quickly Google is rising above everyone. I'm amazed at the progress Google has been doing the past few years. I think if Google keeps it up, they can actually start making things that can go against other companys that are leading right now. They're already beating lots of people with the emails, 2 gigs is quite a bunch. I'm just wondering if google does hand over those records, someone should really revolt about it. It's just wrong to keep track of all these and give it to someone. Also, like derouge said, it's not the Government's business to butt in problems like these.

Comment/Reply (w/o sign-up)

Google should say to the government: "What records? We don't have any records on any of the numrous servers." But, just as an FYI, I am completely on google's side, and this is the first time i have heard about this. I completely agree with ya derouge. The goverment should stick to it's government business, and not invade private(well, im not sure you would call google private, i mean almost everyone on earth has heard of it.) businesses' like google. BTW, right now i believe its around 2.5GB.

Comment/Reply (w/o sign-up)

Actually if Google were to say that, they would quickly see criminal charges filed against them and a whole lot of supenas for what: lying. Lying to the DOJ, or government, is the one sure way to get fines and people sent off to jail. That and not paying your taxes.

Honestly, any body remember what Nixon got in trouble for? How about Clinton? Or Martha Steward? Was it insider trading or obstruction of justice & purgy? Anyone remember this now little accounting firm called Aurthur Anderson? The same "what records we just shredded" company?

And on a side note: (and I do not support or endorce criminal activity in any way) If your going to run a criminal empire just remember this: The government doesn't care so long as you pay your taxes.

Comment/Reply (w/o sign-up)

Next they will outlaw pen and paper diary's. Forcing everyone to keep an on-line diary at http://1984.org that the government can read.

people not keeping logs of all their most intimite thoughts and feelings will be deemeda thought criminal, and dissapear late at night.

Comment/Reply (w/o sign-up)

There's really nothing patriotic about raping the constitution. I really hope they don't get to google though because google is definitely THE service. They're a big rich company but most of their services are free for the consumer. They make all their money with advertisements and paid top-of-the-list search submissions.
You know what this whole "patriot act" stuff means? It means that we're probably going to eventually become fascist of something like that. It means that the hegemony isn't working well enough for the government anymore so they're trying to take porn away. Pretty soon it'll be like communist china in the 50's. President Bush will be the next Chairman Mao. I don't know how many people know what I'm talking about, but it'll start out with just some phone eavesdropping, (taking away privacy) then they're trying to stop the porn industry (taking away freedom of expression) and next they'll outlaw it, and then they'll outlaw all violent video games, and soon they'll start calling things capitalist an goose stepping around the white house. *sigh* I hope it never comes to that. I'm too young for a major political cliff-dive!

Comment/Reply (w/o sign-up)

Yea, you're right. Afterall, kids are doing it younger and younger these days, so if they don't have pornography to sedate their primal urges then I think that the little brain will win against the big brain, if you catch my drift. It'll be just doing more harm than good.

Comment/Reply (w/o sign-up)