White House seeks Google's records

[innersanctum]

I didn't think the "I told you so" would come so soon but here it is. I told you so. Our current administration has requested Google's records (http://www.webpronews.com/insiderreports/searchinsider/wpn-49-20060119WhiteHouseSeeksGoogleRecords.html) in order to identify those that are searching out porn sites! That doesn't mean they won't use that information for other things either. Thank goodness Google is fighting them on this. The fact is, no one is that perfect that they haven't searched for or accidentally came across porn when searching on the internet using Google. This is a 4th Amendment issue that has already been violated by the eavesdropping (remember precedent) of Americans. It's not exactly the same thing but with the government wanting to see what American's are searching for without a search warrant for each individual person, we cross into an area where people will fear using the internet, talking on the phone and even driving in cars (I will get to that one on another day).

I guess if the government had to answer my poll from the old message board, they would have said they could do without the 4th Amendment.

[CplCJ]

Well, if people stop using the internet, there would be dire effects on the nation's economy. I can't imagine the Government would do that. Who knows.

[innersanctum]

They are not asking for IP addresses or identifying information of individuals, they are asking for web addresses (Websites) and search terms. In other words what they want is URLs and the search terms used to get there. It's being done to help protect our children on-line, they are more interested in Kiddie Porn sites and porn sites that target children. The Supreme Court, should something like this ever go before it, I believe would rule that we have no expectation to privacy while on-line. That being on-line would be considered to be a public place. This issue has never come up before the Supreme Court before so I would be interested to see how they would rule. But with all the cases that I have read regarding the 4th amendment over the past 4 months, my feeling is that is how they would rule.

If those records end up in court, they become public record. When they become public record, crazy ex-mother-in-law types can access that information without any exception to privacy.

[innersanctum]

No reason to seal them though. Why bother if privacy isn't an issue. The government believes they are protecting us or kids and they may mean well, but they are going about it the wrong way. If they want to see what is available on Google, Yahoo, MSN or whatever other search that is out there, then they need to sit in the oval office and think of the most disgusting phrases they can think of and search for it. They would find everything that you and I can from our living rooms just the same.

However, what they won't find is who is searching for this smut and that is the true purpose of what they are trying to do. It's a backdoor to the 4th Amendment. Although they aren't illegally searching for information about an individual, what do you think they will do once they come across a person that is searching something illegal (and I don't mean bombs, drugs and the like)? Or what if they come across someone that isn't doing anything illegal but they have strong political views against this administration. They start watching everything that person does on the internet begin looking for reasons to build case against them.

I have logs similar to this at work. Every site our users go to are logged. How is this different? Because we have no expectation of privacy at work. Each user signs a document that informs them of this. They are aware of the implications.

What I am getting at is that these logs, they do not just contain search words. They contain IP address, times they are searching, keywords or phrases. The government will find a way to use this against each of us.

"If there is hope, it lies in the Proles."
- 1984, George Orwell

[innersanctum]

Actually that is not true. They can be sealed and no one could access them and if even if they aren't sealed, they still do not have any personally identifiable information to them. All they are asking for is search terms used and the web addresses that pull up with those search terms.

Also want to add they also asked AOL, MSN, and Yahoo for the same records. All three gave them up with no fight.

And even if a crazy ex mother in law got those records she wouldn't find any information about her ex daughter in law that she is so obsessed with. If she is that crazy to want to know what sites her ex daughter in law goes to, then she really does need to be locked up in a mental institution (not saying that she does not already meet that criteria). :D
and without going into great detail, you go to great lengths to ensure that your privacy is protected from this woman because she could use information against you. The government could do that same thing and use the information against it's citizens.

Everyone is entitled to their privacy.