Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Latest News

      Google Fights for Your Rights

      By
      Dennis Fisher
      -
      January 26, 2006
      Share
      Facebook
      Twitter
      Linkedin

        If youve been paying even a little bit of attention to the various machinations in Washington during the last few months, the recent revelation that the Bush administration has dropped subpoenas on several Internet search giants in an effort to discover what their users are looking for online should have come as no surprise.

        America Online, Microsoft, Yahoo and Google have received demands to turn over reams of data on exactly what words and phrases their users are typing into the companies respective search engines.

        Microsoft and Yahoo have admitted to complying, at least in part, with the subpoenas. AOL officials also said that they have turned over a limited amount of data to the government.

        But the real surprise in all of this is that Google has decided to fight the Department of Justices demands.

        The company has been criticized repeatedly in the last year or so for various practices that some customers and privacy advocates find questionable. Searching Gmail users messages for keywords that can be matched with relevant text ads is just one example.

        But the undisputed search leader has said that it has not turned over data to the government and does not plan to. In response, the DOJ earlier this month sought a court order to compel Google to comply with the subpoena.

        The DOJ said it wants the data—which does not include customers names or their PCs IP addresses—to help it fight a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union in an effort to stop the administration from reviving the controversial COPA (Child Online Protection Act).

        COPA, enacted in 1998, prohibits Web site operators from posting sexually explicit content that could be harmful to minors, unless minors cannot access the content.

        The ACLU challenged the law, saying that it is too burdensome on ISPs and other organizations that are forced to supply data to help the government enforce the law. The Supreme Court in 2004 ordered a trial to determine whether the law violates the Constitution.

        /zimages/3/28571.gifClick here to read more about Microsofts decision to share search data with the feds.

        For its part, the administration contends that COPA is “more effective than filtering software in protecting minors from exposure to harmful materials on the Internet.”

        Google is having none of it. “Google had lengthy discussions to try to resolve this but [representatives] were not able to, and we intend to resist … vigorously,” Google Associate General Counsel Nicole Wong said in a statement.

        Good for Google.

        /zimages/3/28571.gifFor another perspective on Googles refusal to turn over search data to the government, click here.

        The recent disclosure that the Bush administration is using the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on calls made by U.S. citizens—an action that many experts believe is in violation of the Constitution—is simply the latest in a long line of morally and legally ambiguous efforts by the presidents men to stick their noses into every little corner of Americans lives.

        Theres not much that private citizens or corporate America can do about most of these initiatives, but in the case of the DOJ subpoenas, one of these companies needed to stand up and say no.

        Thankfully, Google has done just that.

        Make no mistake, Google will almost certainly have to comply with the governments orders in one form or another. A subpoena is a subpoena, after all.

        But the act, however symbolic it might be, of fighting the administration on this will likely go a long way toward winning back some of the goodwill and swagger that the company seems to have lost recently.

        If nothing else, it shows customers and politicians—not to mention Microsoft, Yahoo and AOL—that Google is unwilling to simply hand over data any time someone from inside the Beltway asks for it.

        A novel position, to be sure, and one I hope Google and others continue to take.

        News Editor Dennis Fisher can be reached at dennis_fisher@ziffdavis.com.

        /zimages/3/28571.gifCheck out eWEEK.coms for the latest news, views and analysis on enterprise search technology.

        Dennis Fisher

        MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

        Big Data and Analytics

        Alteryx’s Suresh Vittal on the Democratization of...

        James Maguire - May 31, 2022 0
        I spoke with Suresh Vittal, Chief Product Officer at Alteryx, about the industry mega-shift toward making data analytics tools accessible to a company’s complete...
        Read more
        Cybersecurity

        Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

        James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
        I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
        Read more
        Applications

        Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

        James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
        I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
        Read more
        Big Data and Analytics

        GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

        James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
        I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
        Read more
        Cloud

        Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

        James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
        Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
        Read more
        Logo

        eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

        Facebook
        Linkedin
        RSS
        Twitter
        Youtube

        Advertisers

        Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

        Advertise with Us

        Menu

        • About eWeek
        • Subscribe to our Newsletter
        • Latest News

        Our Brands

        • Privacy Policy
        • Terms
        • About
        • Contact
        • Advertise
        • Sitemap
        • California – Do Not Sell My Information

        Property of TechnologyAdvice.
        © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

        Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

        ×