Other firms handed over data on Web searches (MSN, Yahoo, complied)

[Sgent]

By Michael Bazeley and Howard Mintz
Mercury News

Yahoo, Microsoft and America Online all complied with a government request for data on consumers' Web searches, a Justice Department official said Thursday.

Court documents and sources maintain the information did not compromise users' privacy.

But Google has refused to accede to government's demand, and on Wednesday the Bush administration asked a San Jose federal judge to force the Mountain View search company to comply with the subpoena.

A source close to the case told the Mercury News that the government specifically asked that the companies not turn over information that could be traced back to the identities of the companies' users. The source said the government was seeking information that would demonstrate what happens when people search for child pornography online.

San Jose Mercury News

[NVMojo]

1. oh, really? They need to prove they didn't turn over IP addresses.

[wakeme2008]

2. Interesting spin...

Yesterday it was adult porn... today's spin is child porn.. Mmmmm

[RC]

6. Fine tuning. Just part of the plan.

I wonder how many people doing research into 9/11, the history & doings of gop evil doers, etc. will suddenly have a problem here? How may porn web sites is the government running for their sting?

[xchrom]

3. of course they did.

privacy is a thing of the past.

stick a fork in it and call it done.

[kurth]

4. Gonzales in search of 15" penises

or terrorists, whichever applies.

[depakid]

5. And the press dutifully reports their lies

with little or no analysis.

[journalist3072]

7. I have an idea here....

Why don't we all go back to Google again and type in "miserable failure" so it will bring up the WH website. Let BushCo see that typing in miserable failure brings up the WH website.

[arachide]

8. what about people in other countries?

Deos this mean that *'s gestapo has information about everybody around the world that use these search engines? Is there no way to get away from these people?

[4dsc]

9. Next election is CHILD PORN and PREDATORS!!

I hope everyone can see what's coming down the pipe here but its clear that the next election cycle will not be about AWOLbush and the corrupt republican party. Rather its going to be about child porn and child predators. Don't believe me, just check out what was running prior and during the last election?? GAY Marraige.. Remember that and how it fill the airwaves. From Opray to your local news. If they can run a story about child porn or a child predator it first billing!!

[Warren Stupidity]

10. Boycott Yahoo MSN and AOL. Support Google!

If any of these sites are your homepage - switch to google. If you are using their email systems, switch to gmail. If you have their toolbars installed - uninstall them. Let these companies know right in their pocketbooks. If you or your kids are using AIM - switch to GAIM: http://gaim.sourceforge.net/about.php.

Consumer boycotts are the modern capitalist's nightmare.

If we will not fight to protect our rights we do not deserve to have them.

[cyberpj]

11. Google Rebuffs Feds on Search Requests (BUT others gave it up)

Google Rebuffs Feds on Search Requests
AP article

snip...

"This is exactly the kind of thing we have been worrying about with search engines for some time," Dixon said. "Google should be commended for fighting this."

Every other search engine served similar subpoenas by the Bush administration has complied so far, according to court documents. The cooperating search engines weren't identified.

Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Yahoo stressed that it didn't reveal any personal information. "We are rigorous defenders of our users' privacy," Yahoo spokeswoman Mary Osako said Thursday. "In our opinion, this is not a privacy issue."

Microsoft Corp. MSN, the No. 3 search engine, declined to say whether it even received a similar subpoena. "MSN works closely with law enforcement officials worldwide to assist them when requested," the company said in a statement.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20060120/D8F8BVEG0.html

[merwin]

12. News flash, Yahoo... people that own websites are your customers as well.

Don't they have a right to some sort of privacy as well?

I also find it very hard to believe that they didn't give IP addresses with those search results... that would have been part of the government's request.

[architect359]

13. Stand fast, Google

Another link to the story this morning: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4630694.stm

..."But Google's lawyers said it would fight the order.

"Google is not a party to this lawsuit and their demand for information overreaches," associate general counsel Nicole Wong said in a written statement.

"We had lengthy discussions with them to try to resolve this, but were not able to, and we intend to resist their motion vigorously."...

Do no evil.