It's Scary How Rapidly Government Requests For Info And Censorship Are Increasing
from the wake-up-people dept
Google's latest transparency report is out and the notable bit of info is that governments continue to increase how often they're seeking info about users. The increase there is a steady growth which is immensely worrisome. There's also an equally troubling increase in the attempts to censor content via Google, though in that case, it was relatively flat until the first half of this year when it shot way, way up.We received a request from the office of a local mayor to remove five blogs for criticizing the mayor. We did not remove content in response to this request.There are a lot more like that, mostly from countries that have less respect for free speech than the US. However, some of the requests in the US are equally troubling:
We received a request from legal representatives of a member of the executive branch to remove 10 YouTube videos for alleged defamation. We did not remove content in response to this request.
We received five requests and one court order to remove seven YouTube videos for criticizing local and state government agencies, law enforcement or public officials. We did not remove content in response to these requests.This one is concerning. What court ordered a takedown of a YouTube video criticizing local government officials? That seems like it should be public info.
Google also admits to taking down info pursuant to a court order concerning defamatory content, though at least some courts have argued that, thanks to Section 230, sites do not have to remove content, even if it's judged to be defamatory. Still, it's reasonable for Google to decide, as a matter of policy, that if a court finds content defamatory, and a proper court order is issued, that it will remove that content.
Interesting information, if still troubling, given the general trends.
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Filed Under: censorship, information, surveillance, transparency
Companies: google
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Thankfully, that is a losing fight but the more governments spy on their citizens, the more people distrust their elected officials and the more people will feel oppressed. That only leads down one path. Revolution.
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None of them are really sitting down and reading History Books.May be if they did they would know that their days are numbered.
Every Power throughout History who pushed the People to hard eventually got what they deserved for their foul treatment of human beings.
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Actually, I bet they are very familiar with history. However, as is true with most people who have power, they are delusional and think they are better than the poor idiots that failed before them. The power hungry always think they have the people under their thumb, just where they want them, only to later discover they fell and for the same reasons as those before them.
Very old saying but it bears repeating: "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men." - John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton
or
"Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it" - William Pitt the Elder, Earl of Chatham
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A thousand time this. I can't tell you how many CEOs and businesspeople I have encountered who repeat stupid mistakes of other executives. When you confront them, they are full of reasons why "it's different in this case/time". They always think they're smarter than their forebears. They never actually are.
There's also a bit of the notion that "everybody mistakes the limits of their vision for the limits of the world" involved.
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The biggest problem with Washington is that they treat us citizens with contempt, as if we're the enemy. Frisking people who want to travel or attend a sporting event, spying and amassing data without warrant or oversight, overspending, attempting to silence free speech, acting in secret, etc. If they want to improve public opinion, they should work towards the common good in a bi-partisan manner. Serve the American people, protect the Constitution, balance the budget, fix our education system, and take a hard-line stance against outsourcing. You know, like they're supposed to be doing in the first place.
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Alas, I don't see this changing until the majority grows us, and stops looking to the government to provide for all their needs.
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Compliance
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Google's "transparency" is fake.
And again, these statements by fascist Senator Lieberman show Google's real purposes and the uses he wants to make of it:
http://www.activistpost.com/2011/11/senator-lieberman-urges-google-to.html
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Re: Google's "transparency" is fake.
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Re: Re: Google's "transparency" is fake.
A large number of sites use Google Analytics, then of course there is Facebook likes, G+ plus ones and twitter likes they all are used to track your movement across the web (no you don't have to click on them). Many sites searches are performed by Google as well. So saying I don't use Google, doesn't mean Google doesn't know all about you.
TechDirt has 3 social networks, 1 ad network and 5 companies tracking you. So on this one site that is 9 companies tracking you (including Google Analytics, and Google+).
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Re: Re: Re: Google's "transparency" is fake.
Not very extraordinary, and blocks most of the trackers.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Google's "transparency" is fake.
Adblock does not block much in the way of tracking, mostly it blocks ad beacons, the main purpose is to block ads from showing up.
HTTPS Everywhere, only attempts to secure the communications between the endpoints, it does not block the kind of tracking we are talking about.
Of the products you mentioned only Ghostery attempts to handle web tracking. I use multiple tools and can assure you that using only the tools you mentioned will not keep you from being tracked (though it will help close the floodgate).
To prevent tracking does take rather extraordinary effort. You have to be ever vigilant. You have to maintain multiple email addresses; not enter your email address on sites, name age... on sites; you have to be careful to keep up with the newest tracking methods... The list goes on for a very long time if you truly do not want to be tracked.
Don't use an iPhone, or Android phone either, or Windows phone, in fact don't use any smartphone. Don't use social networks, Foursquare, and search sites. Don't enter any personal information on any site.... Do Use TOR. Yeah, if you REALLY don't want to be tracked it takes a lot of work.
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Re: Re: Re: Google's "transparency" is fake.
Speak for yourself. Like Ruben, I block them all. It's not extraordinary effort, it's trivial effort.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Google's "transparency" is fake.
NoScript has no defaults that it allows. literally it is No Scripts until you specifically allow them.
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Re: Google's "transparency" is fake.
Even the use of the phrase "real purpose" indicates thatyou assume that there is only one purpose to a search engine business, which is absurd and overly simplified.
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Re: Re: Google's "transparency" is fake.
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Transparency Report
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Seems like it's getting harder and harder to say this, at least with a straight face.
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Jefferson, Franklin, Madison
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Over/under on how long it takes for Disney to send a takedown?
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Ownership
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