DOJ Wants Google To Commit Worst Privacy Violation Ever
Boing Boing reports that the U.S. Department of Justice has asked a federal judge to force Google to commit one of the worst privacy violations in history, one that seems, on its face, to be a gross overreaching of its actual powers.
The case in question is an attempt by the government to revive the Child Online Protection Act, which was struck down for being too broad. The law would have issued penalties for websites that allowed minors to access pornography, and the DOJ is attempting to prove that internet users tend to fall, at random, on porn sites, which in their opinion requires COPA.
We all know that sometimes, you land on a porn site, but to prove it, the DOJ wants Google to hand over one million random web addresses and the entire Google search history for any one-week period.
Google told them to go to hell.
Nicole Wong, an associate general counsel for Google, said the company will fight the government’s effort “vigorously.”
“Google is not a party to this lawsuit, and the demand for the information is overreaching,” Wong said.
The government indicated that other, unspecified search engines have agreed to release the information, but not Google.
It pains me to hear that the other engines are just rolling over, but at least Google is willing to fight this. By the DOJ’s reasoning, they should be able to subpeona someone’s search history in order to prove that they sometimes use a computer. They should not be allowed to get away with this, and more power to Google for taking them on.
UPDATE: Boing Boing reports that Yahoo, AOL and MSN all were asked and gave up their data.
[…] [via Sivacracy] [see more disuccsion at Infothought, Inside Google, Battelle’s SearchBlog, and TechDirt] […]
Pingback by michaelzimmer.org » Blog Archive » DOJ Wants Your Google Search History - Google Resists | January 19, 2006
I still haven’t seen how this would violate my privacy. I’m hoping that someone will take time-out from their hand-wringing to actually point that out.
My biggest gripe is that it’s the government telling a private company to pretty much do market research for them. Then again, not sure how else to get that kind of info on such a large scale, but that’s not Google’s fault.
Comment by Stu | January 19, 2006
If the government is allowed to request the entire search history of Google, then it sets a precedent for requesting your search history. If they are allowed to do it this time, there’s nothing stopping them from violating personal privacy next time. That’s the danger here.
Comment by Nathan Weinberg | January 19, 2006
I don’t see it setting a precedent, though — you’d still need a warrant or subpoena to get MY or any any other individual’s search history.
As far as I can tell, the only entity in this case whose privacy is being violated is Google itself. It’s not their burden to be a data gatherer for the government. After seeing the government trying to subpoena membership lists for private clubs during the Alito confirmation hearings, I’m not surprised. Of course, I’d prefer that the administration not follow the example set by liberals.
Worst privacy violation ever? Not so much, especially not in comparison to the meddling that Europe takes part in regarding Microsoft’s ability to control their own product. That’s a much bigger state abuse of power in my eyes.
Comment by Stu | January 19, 2006
Nathan, I agree with you that it’s a slippery slope. One clarification: the subpeona wants Google to turn over “1 million random Web addresses and records of all Google searches from any one-week period,” which is quite different from the entire search history of Google. Still, I’m glad to see Google fighting this.
Comment by Niraj | January 19, 2006
Danny Sullivan at searchenginewatch makes it pretty clear that no personal data is involved here. Therefore Google’s resistance is only of symbolic value.
This however clearly shows that one needs to think carefully about what user data is stored in the first place.
There are many antiterrorist surveillance programs around already, not all of them known to the public, and they have a tendency to grow in number and reach lately.
Comment by Karl-Friedrich Lenz | January 20, 2006
THE MOMENT AN INDIAN (OR BRAZILIAN, OR WHATEVER LARGE COUNTRY I TRUST CANNOT BE EASILY BULLIED BY THE US) COMPANY LAUNCHES A DECENT SEARCH ENGINE AND THEIR GOVERNMENT PROMISES TO RESPECT USER PRIVACY, I WILL NEVER EVER AGAIN USE A US-BASED SEARCH ENGINE IN MY LIFE. THE ACTIONS OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION ARE SIMPLY MAKING THE US INTERNET INDUSTRY VULNERABLE TO COMPETITION FROM ABROAD SINCE PEOPLE LIKE ME FEEL LESS AND LESS SAFE TO USE SYSTEMS THAT ARE UNDER US JURISDICTION.
I HOPE SOMEBODY FROM THESE COUNTRIES IS READING THIS. INDIA, BRAZIL THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY… SEIZE IT AND LET GLOBAL COMPETITION PROTECT OUR CIVIL LIVERTIES.
Comment by Walter Sidney | January 21, 2006
[…] The MSN Search Blog has a statement on their handing over of search data to the U.S. Department of Justice. The highlights: There’s been quite a frenzy of speculation over the past 24 hours regarding the request by the government for some data in relation to a child online protection lawsuit. Obviously both privacy and child protection are both super important topics – so I’m glad this discussion is happening. […]
Pingback by » MSN Search On DOJ Demands InsideMicrosoft - part of the Blog News Channel | January 21, 2006
[…] Worried that Google is going to hand over his personal search history, Jon Swift is taking preemtive action by explaining how his searches were just innocent attempts to find information on Hilton Hotels in Paris and “rude teens”. Yeah, you aren’t fooling anyone… […]
Pingback by » What Do You Have To Hide? » InsideGoogle » part of the Blog News Channel | January 21, 2006
i have an idea. how about parents start taking responsibility for their children and stop trying to have every movie, game, and internet access scrubbed clean for them.
there are other ways to catch pedophiles.
the way to lose your freedom and invite big brother is to offer away little freedoms one at a time. It is NOT the governments job to raise your children. i have a really good idea, ifg you dont like what your kids watch or surf… then unplug the damn TV and computer.
Comment by Cj | January 24, 2006
Google abides by the suppresive regime of China and limits what can and can’t be pulled up their search engine…Life is wonderful in China, just go there a google up anything…what’s up with that…MONEY. Over here they call it something else. LOL
Comment by Detter | April 23, 2006
[…] Google se niega al espionaje de la administracion bush 24Jul06 Si en otras ocasiones ha tocado criticar a Google por sus concesiones al régimen chino (véase Reconocida la censura en China de Google News), hoy creo que hay que aplaudir al gigante de internet por negarse a colaborar en el espionaje de la administración Bush a sus ciudadanos. Lo explican en Silicon Valley (vía Inside google) indicando que, según cuentan los propios abogados de la administración Bush, han solicitado a un juez que obligue a Google a facilitar datos para “analizar los sitios que permiten ver pornografía a menores” ante la negativa de los responsables del buscador a facilitarlos.Paradójicamente es una empresa privada la que protege en este caso la privacidad de sus usuarios del fisgoneo de la administración pública. La negativa de Google contrasta con el servilismo demostrado por sus competidoras (eso afirman desde el gobierno), dispuestas a sacrificar la privacidad de sus usuarios en pro de no tener problemas con la administración. Ojo, no digo que no colaboren con la justicia si un juez exige datos para la lucha contra la pornografía infantil, pero dejar las puertas abiertas a que un gobierno acceda a las búsquedas de sus usuarios excusándose en el acceso de los niños al porno es algo muy distinto. Google promete luchar y espero que esta vez no hagan concesiones. […]
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