Google Rejects subpeona

[-AB-]

I didn't find this elsewhere so I figured I would post it. Sorry if it is, but I searched for it!

LINK

Google on Friday formally rejected the US justice department's subpoena of data from the web search leader, arguing the demand violated the privacy of users' web searches and its own trade secrets.
Responding to a motion by US attorney general Alberto Gonzales, Google also said in a filing in US District Court for the Northern District of California the government demand to disclose web search data was impractical.

 

[Kate]

I wish they had so much guts to confront the Chinese government.

On the other hand they are right to stand up against this gross abuse of power from an undemocratic administration. It may be worthy to note that many other corporations will pass on your details silently on request, with no regard to your privacy whatsoever (if you don't know what I mean do a search on 'Jet blue').

The bottom line is: Americans should be more concerned about the destruction of they privacy and make their voices heard.

 

[gprime]

I'm not much of a google fan (its gone way down hill since 98'), but I must applaud the stance they're taking here. Gonzales is a moron who's just trying to gather information to help him in his assinine war on pornography. I'm glad google isn't going to be helping him in that.

Now, as to the Chinese government, the issue is of course different. The US is a democratic nation with a certain set of laws that Gonzales is trying to ignore so that he can make his case. But in China, what the government says is the law, so google has no legally defensable arguement in non-compliance.