Document: Google Ordered By Federal government To Track Americans’ Searches
Forbes obtained the info via ‘accidentally unsealed’ court papers
A report by Forbes has comprehensive how the U. S. authorities are secretly issuing key word warrants to Google, purchasing the search engine company to track and supply user data on anyone who searches specific names, contact information or phone numbers .
Forbes obtained the info via ‘ accidentally unsealed’ court documents, which show which the FBI and Department of Homeland Security may have used the method to track suspects.
Critics argue that the practice violates the Fourth Modification protection against unreasonable lookups, and have described such situations as “ effectively angling expeditions. ”
Jennifer Granick, surveillance plus cybersecurity counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union warned that “ Trawling through Google’s search history database enables police to identify people merely based on what they has been thinking about, for whatever reason, at some point during the past. ”
“ This never-before-possible technique intends First Amendment interests and can inevitably sweep up innocent individuals, ” Granick added, additional warning “ especially if the keyword terms are not distinctive and the time frame not accurate. ”
“ To make matters worse, law enforcement are currently doing this in secret, which insulates the exercise from public debate plus regulation, ” Granick urged.
Google responded to the news with a statement protecting its actions.
“ As with all police force requests, we have a rigorous process that is designed to protect the particular privacy of our users whilst supporting the important work associated with law enforcement, ” the declaration claimed.
Forbes notes that “ Similar orders were served on Microsoft and Yahoo for his or her respective search engines. ”
While the actual information the tech companies paid remains sealed, the purchases on Google can be read here , here and here , as the Microsoft and Yahoo orders can be found right here and here .
The issue made headlines briefly last year, and has been continuous for some time:
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