I have to agree with commentators on a post about Google data being used in court -- in that case, the cause was good.

But what worries me is that so many lawyers are hauling Google into courts and forcing them to release data of all kinds. One day it seems harmless...and the next day it could translate into witch-hunts.

Judge Orders YouTube to Hand Over User Data

In a potentially huge blow to the fight for privacy on the Internet,a judge has ordered that Google must hand over data about every video viewed by YouTube users to Viacom, including usernames and IP addresses. Viacom is suing Google for allowing its copyrighted content to be posted to YouTube, and hopes to use this data to prove that copyrighted material is more popular than user-generated content on the site.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has already called the decision a violation of the Video Privacy Protection act, and you can bet Google will fight the ruling tooth and nail.

I think and hope that Google attorneys can figure out a way to protect the data. Sure, it's great when it can be used to help people for the right reasons. But the US Courts' belief that the data is a treasure-trove of American secrets scares me.

July 5, 2008 in Sex and Technology, Sex Laws and Crimes, Sex On-Line, Sexual Politics | Permalink

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