Google: 'Alarming' rise in censorship requests

[Powerman620]

Where is the line going to be drawn? Free speech gone?


http://www.koco.com/news/money/technology/Google-reports-alarming-rise-in-government-censorship-requests/-/9843786/15142634/-/bca5jt/-/index.html

 

[Glocktogo]

Without knowing what was delinked or removed, it's difficult to tell whether this is a free speech issue or not. As more criminal activties go online, the number of removal requests are going to rise. Anything on the net is public domain and shouldn't be considered private. Law enforcement has an active presence on the web and anyone using it to break the law should consider themselves warned.

 

[Powerman620]

that is true

 

[vvvvvvv]

Without knowing what was delinked or removed, it's difficult to tell whether this is a free speech issue or not. As more criminal activties go online, the number of removal requests are going to rise. Anything on the net is public domain and shouldn't be considered private. Law enforcement has an active presence on the web and anyone using it to break the law should consider themselves warned.

Just because something is criminal doesn't mean that its not protected speech. And no, not everything on the net is public domain. They are "business records" of the company storing the data in most domestic jurisdictions. While that does not necessarily require a warrant to collect data, the usefulness of that data is still subject to the policies of the data processor. And for data that is properly encrypted, that warning at the end should only apply if there is sufficient evidence to assert that further evidence will be discovered as a foregone conclusion.

I haven't looked at the report, but I would be interested in how many come from the same cases where domains are being seized on mere allegations by a plaintiff without the defendant being notified or present.



That said, Google is also alerting gmail/apps users if their accounts are compromised by state-sponsored attacks.

 

[Glocktogo]

Just because something is criminal doesn't mean that its not protected speech. And no, not everything on the net is public domain. They are "business records" of the company storing the data in most domestic jurisdictions. While that does not necessarily require a warrant to collect data, the usefulness of that data is still subject to the policies of the data processor. And for data that is properly encrypted, that warning at the end should only apply if there is sufficient evidence to assert that further evidence will be discovered as a foregone conclusion.

I haven't looked at the report, but I would be interested in how many come from the same cases where domains are being seized on mere allegations by a plaintiff without the defendant being notified or present.

That said, Google is also alerting gmail/apps users if their accounts are compromised by state-sponsored attacks.

While talking about things such as fraud, theft, illegal acts such as pedophilia, etc. are protected speech, furtherance of an actual crime is not. My point is a valid one. IMO, each of these requests should be accompanied by a warrant. They should also be in furtherance of a prosecution and not simply shut down. If you can't make a case in court, there's no justification in the request.

 

[Billybob]

http://www.google.com/transparencyreport/removals/government/