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Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: aldo_14 on January 20, 2006, 04:43:23 am

Title: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: aldo_14 on January 20, 2006, 04:43:23 am
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/01/19/feds_subpoena_google_search_records/

Quote
The US Department of Justice has taken Google to court, demanding it hand over all searches made in a one week period. It's a fishing expedition, unconnected with any ongoing criminal prosecution. The DOJ wants the information to back up its attempt to revive an anti-pornography law derailed by the Supreme Court two years ago.

The subpoena was issued last year, and Google refused the request - but we only learn of the case week, via a San Jose Mercury News report. The DoJ has now ordered a Federal Judge to force Google to comply.

It's a step too far even for a company with a fast and loose attitude to privacy.

"Google is not a party to this lawsuit, and the demand for the information is overreaching,'' Google counsel Nicola Wong told the Merc.

Google sets its cookies to expire in 2038, and launched products and services which make that cookie personally identifiable with a user, such as GMail, and a "personalized" search page.

"We are moving to a Google that knows more about you," Google CEO Eric Schmidt promised last year.

If, as looks likely, the DoJ succeeds, then surfers worldwide will have a US Attorney General who knows a lot more about you, too.

I love the nice, non-political grounds for the DoJ.

EDIT; bbc story; http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4630694.stm
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: Mefustae on January 20, 2006, 05:58:22 am
Quote
The department wants the data to try to show in court it has the right approach in enforcing an online pornography law.
I wouldn't call ordering a company to hand over (somewhat) confidential records for basically no reason at all the "right" approach.

F*****s.
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: aldo_14 on January 20, 2006, 06:05:15 am
Quote
The department wants the data to try to show in court it has the right approach in enforcing an online pornography law.
I wouldn't call ordering a company to hand over (somewhat) confidential records for basically no reason at all the "right" approach.

F*****s.

I'm not sure what value it would have beyond advocating government censorship, anyways - what could it show beyond that some people access porn on the internet (the shock!)? Unless they plan on using that data to track down the identities, locations, etc of people (which would be a massive breach of privacy for everyone else, as they'd presumably have to data-mine access records for a number of sites etc to try and cross-match).   Perhaps they want to follow the Chinese approach and place regulations upon the likes of search engines and ISPs (essentially, the Chinese approach is to force self-censorship upon the likes of those groups, and internet cafe owners, etc through punishment as well as the great firewall- thus meaning the state itself is spared from the task of monitoring millions of sites itself).

And this is from the country that controls the internet.

EDIT; based on this http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/19/AR2006011903331_2.html, they want this basically to prove that people can access porn via search engines (no ****, sherlock); possibly with the intention of proving that having the DoJ watching you is better than filtering software or somesuch.  What a stupid excuse for such a massive precedent in harming privacy.
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: Kosh on January 20, 2006, 08:45:18 am
I think they are hiding their real reasons behind this.
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: Ford Prefect on January 20, 2006, 11:24:56 am
They probably want to use this to track down illegal forms of pornography. Still a horrible idea, though.
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: Taristin on January 20, 2006, 11:27:29 am
Oh noes! they'll find out I was looking for Covvie Elite porn! :shaking:






:rolleyes:
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: Goober5000 on January 20, 2006, 01:12:05 pm
It's worth noting that MSN and Yahoo turned over their records without a fight.  At least Google is making noise about it.
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: aldo_14 on January 20, 2006, 01:17:44 pm
It's worth noting that MSN and Yahoo turned over their records without a fight.  At least Google is making noise about it.

Not surprising for Yahoo; they turned over a Chinese bloggers' name and address to the Chinese government, so he could be imprisoned for dissent, so this is relatively tame for them.  And MS probably have some lucrative contracts to bid for.
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: BlackDove on January 20, 2006, 01:24:20 pm
Who cares as long as the cash stays in the pocket.

I love not being in America :)
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: karajorma on January 20, 2006, 01:35:23 pm
Not surprising for Yahoo; they turned over a Chinese bloggers' name and address to the Chinese government, so he could be imprisoned for dissent, so this is relatively tame for them.

Unless it's something to do with Nazi memorabilia Yahoo really don't give a stuff about free speech.
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: ZylonBane on January 20, 2006, 02:05:19 pm
I love not being in America :)
And we love you not being here too.
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: BlackDove on January 20, 2006, 02:12:42 pm
I can't do it, I just can't do it.
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: WMCoolmon on January 20, 2006, 02:15:00 pm
Wow. Go Google.
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: Deepblue on January 20, 2006, 03:16:50 pm
*snip*
So wrong!  :ick:
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: aldo_14 on January 20, 2006, 05:20:31 pm
I love not being in America :)
And we love you not being here too.

I love you not being here, too.
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: NGTM-1R on January 20, 2006, 05:37:25 pm
Oh noes! they'll find out I was looking for Covvie Elite porn! :shaking:

Please tell me that doesn't actually exist.
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: Jetmech Jr. on January 20, 2006, 05:39:13 pm
It's worth noting that MSN and Yahoo turned over their records without a fight. At least Google is making noise about it.

http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-6028701.html?tag=nl.e540

My Pr0n (records)!!11!

P.S. **** Bush and Dick (Cheney).
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: Grug on January 20, 2006, 05:44:16 pm
Oh noes! they'll find out I was looking for Covvie Elite porn! :shaking:

:rolleyes:

You too!? :nervous:





:p
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: Deepblue on January 21, 2006, 12:09:12 am
It's a bloody epidemic!
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: aldo_14 on January 21, 2006, 12:27:28 pm
**** Bush and Dick (Cheney).

Do you have any idea how many red flags that'll send up at the Department of Homeland Morality?
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: WMCoolmon on January 21, 2006, 12:42:18 pm
Oh noes! they'll find out I was looking for Covvie Elite porn! :shaking:

Please tell me that doesn't actually exist.

You're asking that in the community that has a massive Vasudan swimsuit poster.

The Halo community wishes that they had Covvie Elite pr0n.
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: FireCrack on January 21, 2006, 12:48:04 pm
Hmm.. bush and dick, never thaught about it that way before....

 :shaking: :shaking: :shaking:
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: Taristin on January 21, 2006, 07:56:27 pm
Oh noes! they'll find out I was looking for Covvie Elite porn! :shaking:

Please tell me that doesn't actually exist.

You're asking that in the community that has a massive Vasudan swimsuit poster.

The Halo community wishes that they had Covvie Elite pr0n.


There.... is, actually. Sexy beasts, those elites.
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: Ford Prefect on January 21, 2006, 08:02:29 pm
Quote
You're asking that in the community that has a massive Vasudan swimsuit poster.
Y'know I think my eyes are going because I keep reading this quote and it keeps telling me that there's a Vasudan swimsuit poster, which couldn't be what that really says because if that were true, well... never mind-- that just couldn't be what it says.

Could it?

No, of course not, that's silly.
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: CP5670 on January 21, 2006, 10:23:34 pm
I think he's talking about that pheropods thread in the art forum. Definitely worth a look. :D
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: Deepblue on January 21, 2006, 11:13:27 pm
Oh noes! they'll find out I was looking for Covvie Elite porn! :shaking:

Please tell me that doesn't actually exist.

You're asking that in the community that has a massive Vasudan swimsuit poster.

The Halo community wishes that they had Covvie Elite pr0n.


There.... is, actually. Sexy beasts, those elites.

...

God no.

I geuss it was bound to happen after furry versions of Halo characters started popping up.
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: WMCoolmon on January 21, 2006, 11:44:56 pm
As long as they haven't defiled the Halo Babies AFD joke.


...wouldn't it be horrible if in 10 years, that one comment spawned a massive Halo pedophilia industry? And yet so sad, and so funny...
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: GodisanAtheist on January 22, 2006, 06:23:09 pm
Some funny trivia:

Google's unofficial corporate motto is "Don't be Evil".
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: Charismatic on January 23, 2006, 12:27:16 am
Dam. There goes my porno. GO GOOGLE! Guess its back to penguinbomb for that :P
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: NGTM-1R on January 23, 2006, 04:30:13 pm
Of course, the only reason Google is even fighting is they fear someone would reverse-engineer their search engine if it became public record.  :p
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: Polpolion on January 23, 2006, 07:11:44 pm
There are some posters in my classroom that say "man of the year" and each one has a picture of a U.S. president on it. Then there is one that says "person of the year" and it has a picture of Bush on it.
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: Deepblue on January 23, 2006, 08:07:38 pm
Wrong thread?
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: Mefustae on January 23, 2006, 08:28:54 pm
For thesizzler, that's hardly aberrant...
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: Polpolion on January 23, 2006, 09:07:09 pm
Well I saw them making fun of Bush... So yeah...       


 :nervous:

Someone should make an Offical "make fun of U.S. goverment" thread.
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: Deepblue on January 24, 2006, 05:35:48 am
Well I saw them making fun of Bush... So yeah...


 :nervous:

Someone should make an Offical "make fun of U.S. goverment" thread.


Oh, the irony.

*waits for goob*
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: vyper on January 24, 2006, 11:34:47 am
There is nothing wrong with making fun of the US Government, since we're just doing the American people's job for them. ;)
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: Goober5000 on January 24, 2006, 12:02:49 pm
*waits for goob*

You rang?
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: Janos on January 24, 2006, 12:17:16 pm
Oh noes! they'll find out I was looking for Covvie Elite porn! :shaking:

Please tell me that doesn't actually exist.

You're asking that in the community that has a massive Vasudan swimsuit poster.

The Halo community wishes that they had Covvie Elite pr0n.


There.... is, actually. Sexy beasts, those elites.

I've seen Halo porn.

It was pretty horrible.

Oh Sarge why the hell did you and Arbiter..?
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: NGTM-1R on January 24, 2006, 03:43:10 pm

I've seen Halo porn.

It was pretty horrible.

Oh Sarge why the hell did you and Arbiter..?

o,0

The only even vaguely pornographic Halo stuff I've seen has been of Cortana.
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: Ford Prefect on January 24, 2006, 03:57:34 pm
There is nothing wrong with making fun of the US Government, since we're just doing the American people's job for them. ;)
It's not our fault that you hate freedom.
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: aldo_14 on January 24, 2006, 04:05:09 pm
There is nothing wrong with making fun of the US Government, since we're just doing the American people's job for them. ;)
It's not our fault that you hate freedom.

You're good at sarcasm, did you know that?
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: Deepblue on January 24, 2006, 05:00:38 pm
Well I saw them making fun of Bush... So yeah...


 :nervous:

Someone should make an Official "make fun of U.S. government" thread.


Tsk, tsk Goob. Making me do your job. :nervous:
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: Goober5000 on January 24, 2006, 06:07:59 pm
Tsk, tsk Goob. Making me do your job. :nervous:

If I corrected everyone's grammar and spelling everywhere, people would become lazy.  The whole "give a man a fish" thing.  People need to learn to correct their own grammar. :D
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: Ford Prefect on January 24, 2006, 10:04:17 pm
You're good at sarcasm, did you know that?
No, I didn't. (Unless that answer was sarcastic too! Ohhhhhh!)
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: WMCoolmon on January 24, 2006, 10:08:25 pm
Tsk, tsk Goob. Making me do your job. :nervous:

If I corrected everyone's grammar and spelling everywhere, people would become lazy.  The whole "give a man a fish" thing.  People need to learn to correct their own grammar. :D

O RLY?
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: Grey Wolf on January 24, 2006, 10:54:08 pm
There is nothing wrong with making fun of the US Government, since we're just doing the American people's job for them. ;)
THEY TOOK OUR JORBS!
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: Goober5000 on January 26, 2006, 11:21:22 am
If I corrected everyone's grammar and spelling everywhere, people would become lazy. The whole "give a man a fish" thing. People need to learn to correct their own grammar. :D

O RLY?

YARLY!

Or yarrly.  Yarr.
Title: Re: Use Google? The USGov wants you('re records)
Post by: aldo_14 on January 26, 2006, 11:26:53 am
Of course, if you're Chinese google cares not a jot for you (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4647398.stm).