Another leak of YOUR info.

Google now publishes figures about who is asking for what regarding your information. In the first instance, a few years ago, they defied the government saying they needed proper warrants to release information. 
But one assumes they have been 'got to' like so many others, not to mention that the Patriot Act requires social media and others to pass on information about their clients at the threat of the law. And it is none of your business that they asked about you.
Interesting to see some figures here. Make note of the actual warrants.

Their transparency report is interesting, read it ....

 tech-google-transparency-report.html

Perhaps you should be careful about what you are saying in the public domain on social media? The powers that be needn't ask or get warrants for your Facebook info, YOU are putting it out there yourself!

Shut Down the Web?

There is a protest going on today about censorship of the Web. You should already know the problem, if not, just Google - SOPA - and - PIPA - . The US Congress wants to end piracy of movies etc by websites. Even offshore if they are infringing US copyright.
At least that is the outward purpose. Some believe that certain politicians in America really want to control the media of the Web, for whatever purposes. The US Republicans who control the Senate want the legislation passed, and people like Rupert Murdoch are backing them. That should tell you something.

Google, Wikipedia (the fourth most visited website) Reddit, BoingBoing, Tucows, Identi.ca, are among many who have chosen to lodge their protests via blacking out their own websites or featuring a protest message! Others offering backing include Facebook, Twitter, Mozilla, Yahoo and eBay.

Shutting out companies that are offering pirated product could be done in other ways, without suppressing the internet servers totally. The Patriot Act and Homeland Security already have the capacity to infiltrate ISPs to get information about anyone. And without warrants. And without your knowledge. It is the law that your own ISP cannot even tell you they have downloaded information about you.
But it would take more effort to chase them down individually. Easier to punish everyone for crimes committed by the few.
The bonus is total control of media on the Web. This could be the true reason because most of those hawks of the right wing recognize the web as a most dangerous thing because of its ability of instant and uncontrolled communication.
That was proven long ago in Tianamin Square.

The RIAA, the Recording Industry of America got their way a few years ago, led by heavy metal band Metallica, because people were downloading copies of their, 'music'. We were all punished for that.
Yes its wrong but the result is that now every man, woman and child in North America pays a premium surcharge for BLANK tapes and blank CDs etc because you are deemed a criminal if you are purchasing these things and it is suspected by the RIAA that you will use them for the purpose of infringing copyright instead of paying for music. Even if you are buying them to record your grandchild's first words! The RIAA has had a huge windfall because of this collection of iniquitous fees.
(some would argue that the extra money you pay at the cash register to the RIAA is actually a licence to record whatever music you like, because that is why you are paying the fee)

So does it also mean that websites like NetFlix would have to charge more to every single subscriber because it would be assumed they are recording those movies for whatever reasons? And do you pay more at theaters because someone could sneak in a camcorder?

But then is it really about copyright infringement? Or is it another subterfuge step toward controlling what people hear, read and see on the Web.
A most dangerous place.

Dangerous for who though?

Success. Today, Jan. 20, the PIPA and SOPA anti-online privacy bills were halted by the US Congress after the Wikipedia protest! Although they have promised to continue to work at the bills and they are only a postponement for now. At any rate, it is a demonstration of how public opinion can change the direction of government. A huge win for freedom on the web.

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Today in History - - - September 4

Google, the search engine to become it's own entity, was introduced by Larry Page and Sergey Brin in 1998. Google now has it's own definition in Websters.
We have our own reasons to like Google.
The Patriot Act was rushed through congress only 45 days after the horrendous actions at the WTC on September 11, 2001. And many believe that it allows federal authorities, including the FBI and CIA to spy on US citizens without their knowledge. They can do secret searches of your home without telling you, for instance.

What is also suspicious to some, is the fact that the government under George Bush Jr and then Attorney General John Ashcroft started selling the act only 11 days after September 11, 2001, causing the idea that it was part of the same preparations long before any planes crashed.

To be specific about why we like Google - Homeland Security under the Patriot Act, allows the FBI to obtain records from businesses, including hospitals, bookstores and libraries, and permits federal agents to ask financial institutions whether terrorism suspects have accounts with them, all in secret and without the knowledge of the persons being investigated.
This includes all your email transcripts, all your web surfing records, and all your internet search quests! And without warrants and by the new law, your web Internet Service Providers are forbidden under penalty of law to advise you your web records have been compromised!
Literally all the search engine companies complied without a whimper ...

Except Google, who resisted the government and said they would allow no such thing without warrants and proper legalities by the government. Google's lawyers were bristling for a fight. But alas, we're not sure what ensued in this regard because it all went quiet after this initial rebeliousness.
But we are right to suspect that the same actions might have been implemented as against Microsoft to get the government's way. (see that post here)

At any rate, we wish Google continued antagony against government control of any part of the web.

Way to go Google! Happy Birthday!