As if this pathetic excuse for an administration wasn't satisfied with spying...

[tenguzero]

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercu...ntent=sjm_news

It'll be interesting to see how this proceeds.

I hate this administration so much -- can we impeach that @#%$ Bush and all of his scumbag cohorts AND the lowlives who back them? As if all this BS with illegal spying and wiretapping and email monitoring wasn't enough, now they 're trying to seize search records from Google to try and substantiate some nebulous porn case? I hope Google continues to resist the Feds, because if one of the most powerful internet companies can't stand up to them, what hope do we citizens and our battles for personal privacy have?

I'm so completely disgusted with this government right now, and I can't believe more Americans aren't fuming over this kind of Gestapo crap. Shame on the politicians who push this shit. Shame on Bush for being such a horrible president. And shame on the administration for being a bunch of lousy liars, warhawks, and otherwise ignorant asses.

[BNaylor]

In case you didn't know someone had posted a similar subject in the "Completely Off Topic" forum.

But before losing any sleep over this I'd recommend reading the Motion to Compel at link below:

http://www.mercurynews.com/multimedi...google0119.pdf

IMO it is not an invasion of privacy issue or the Bush administration spying on US citizens. Due to the cause of action filed by the ACLU the Feds want data in reference to child pornography. Google will not be releasing nor has the government asked for the IP addresses of people using Google to search for porno to include child porno. Any identity as to the person doing the query will not be disclosed. However, the data may reveal locations of child porno sites which IMO should be shut down period. Of course search engines maintain the IP addresses and URLs of the host site and if they are hosting child porn on their web sites then shame on them. Even with IP data of the host child porn site it may not make any difference anyways because the site will probably not be located in the US. Plus the request for specific information was narrowed and it sounds reasonable providing the info requested will be used for the sole purpose explained in the Motion to Compel. Also, other search engines have already complied with the requests.

Now if Google and other search engines keep a record of everytime someone searches for data and logs the IP address of an individual then they have problems and my question is why are they doing that? What is Google hiding? I would be more upset that Google is logging my IP address everytime I use their search engine.

If you want to use this as an excuse to further Bush bash be my guest and have fun. I understand and you are entitled to your opinion. Because from the offset I would admit this is very disturbing but after reviewing the facts it is not bad as it may seem but that is just my personal opinion.

[tenguzero]

Bah. Didn't even think to check the OT section for this topic. I'm still glad to see so many people supporting Google though. I can't believe those "other" search engines folded to the pressure.

[GTP Dad]

You know I am not as worried about the Bush administration spying on me as I am Google. I am not now nor have I ever been a terrorist so I really don't feel much at risk from the NSA or the Bush administration because I have nothing to hide. I do however have a problem with Google, Yahoo or any other search engine keeping records on my search habits. Doesn't this qualify as "spying" especially if they are doing it without my knowledge. Maybe the anger that is being conveyed here needs to be refocused toward corporate America who is hell bent on spying on me to see what I am searching for and then spamming me with useless e-mails or business opportunity mail (junk).

[tenguzero]

http://www.google.com/privacy.html

At least you can read all of the fine print for Google. I only wish the government had a similar privacy policy. Oh wait,

"Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."


The difference is, Google will fail as a business if they begin to violate their policies noticeably (a century of consumer-powered economics attests to that) but the government's power allows it a lot more wiggling room -- which is understandable, because a governing body needs to be dynamic. However, there's an awful large gulf between "dynamic" and "illegal".

[YogsVR4]

I wish people got half as mad at the intrusiveness of the IRS. What the FBI, NSA and Google tracks for that matter is a drop in the bucket in what the IRS is sanctioned to do.

The governments focus in this case is to track down child pornography. Sure I can understand the need for people to fear government intrusion, but there is something else to consider too. The internet is not privately owned. The government invented and maintains the framework. Using an admittedly narrow comparison, the department of transportation tracks bad driving habits on the roads, I don't see why illegal activity shouldn't be tracked on the internet. They're looking for patterns, not an individuals search history. The FBI already has ways to make that happen if there is something fishy going on.

Healthy skepticism is a good thing but I think some folks have passed that and gone to paranoia.

[tenguzero]

All the power to them for desiring to prosecute those who would promote child porn, but this is about more than child porn-- it's also about targeting porn sites that would make themselves accessible TO minors, in addition to how much content a search engine might provide that could be considered "harmful" to minors. But what is considered "harmful" to minors? And what other information would the government have access to by examining these records? I can only assume there's a valid reason why the courts would have seen fit to curtail this avenue of investigation once already, and why privacy advocates are keen on stopping the proceedings.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060120/...gle_privacy_dc

It's definately getting more and more difficult to know nowadays what is a real threat, and what is mere paranoia. Ironically, it could be said that the body essentially at the center of this whole issue (the internet) is undoubtedly the largest conduit through which news and current events travel, and also, naturally, paranoia and conspiracy. So the question is, do we call a bluff, and turn a blind eye to the myriad concerns we're now party to as a result of things like the internet and up-to-the-minute 24-hour news coverage, or do we take the plunge and buy into it -- risking almost certain sidetracking and hyperbole? Many are fond lately of applying that much-used Ben Franklin quote on freedom, and I need not repeat it here. The question is, is that still applicable in 21st century society?

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by YogsVR4

Healthy skepticism is a good thing but I think some folks have passed that and gone to paranoia.

[03cavPA]

Originally Posted by YogsVR4

The internet is not privately owned. The government invented and maintains the framework.

--snipped---

I don't see why illegal activity shouldn't be tracked on the internet. They're looking for patterns, not an individuals search history. The FBI already has ways to make that happen if there is something fishy going on.

Healthy skepticism is a good thing but I think some folks have passed that and gone to paranoia.

I agree. The US gov't. already tracks and logs Internet activity and information. They've been doing it since the inception of ARPANET. To think otherwise is foolish.

Child porn and terrorism are undesirable activities, but they can be some really slippery slopes to give the gov't. an easy excuse to move on to more intrusive activity. (not that they need any excuses, they do what they want anyway)

[Flatrater]

With all of the spying being done against it's citizens to complain about the government spying on child porn web sites is rather a waste of time.

No one has yet to speak of the government being able to check our credit history and more when you purchase an airline ticket.