Privacy is a constant concern for Internet users, and Google has announced detailed information how it approaches government requests for user data.
That includes a new section the company has added to its patchy at best Transparency Report that answers questions users may have. When we the consumers use engines such as Google we enter into an agreement with the provider, in that we the user trade our privacy for better and more refined searches. But when our privacy is traded to Google what obligations and rules do they operate under in order to prevent that information to falling into the wrong hands. This raises more questions than it answers, questions like “In what situations wouldn’t you tell me about a request for my information?” (The answer is: Google can’t notify you if your account is closed or if the company is legally prohibited from doing so. “We sometimes fight to give users notice of a data request by seeking to lift gag orders or unseal search warrants.”)
Google walks a fine line when it comes to privacy. It collects a vast amount of data about individuals that can allow it to determine who a person is, where they’re located, and what they like, among other items. This threatens our anonymity online. Government agencies increasingly rely on Google for information about users, and as relatively new form of information distribution even the law of the land is still sketchy. This means we rely on companies like Google in order to protect our privacy but if a government agency requests our information its is we the users who no longer have no say in what they get to see.
Google Chief Legal Officer David Drummond wrote in a blog post to mark Data Privacy Day:
“It’s important for law enforcement agencies to pursue illegal activity and keep the public safe. We’re a law-abiding company, and we don’t want our services to be used in harmful ways. But it’s just as important that laws protect you against overly broad requests for your personal information.”
The blog post comes about a week after Google released its latest Transparency Report. That report revealed that the number of requests from U.S. authorities for information about users has growing year on year. In the second half of 2012, Google received 8,438 U.S. requests for information, up 6 percent from the first half of 2012. Globally, Google received 21,389 requests, up 2 percent from the first half of the year. Google also noted that along with the new section in its transparency report, it also will continue pushing for updating laws like the U.S. Electronic Communications Privacy Act. In addition, it will continue its “long-standing strict process for handling these kinds of requests.”
Here’s a rundown of that process, according to Drummond:
• Google scrutinizes the request carefully to make sure it’s legal and complies with Google’s policies. To consider complying, a request typically must be made in writing, signed by an authorized official, and issued under an appropriate law.
• Google evaluates the scope of the request. If it’s too broad, it may refuse to provide the information or seek to narrow the request. Drummond noted Google does this frequently.
• Google notifies users about legal demand when appropriate. Sometimes it can’t, either because it’s legally prohibited or because it doesn’t have a user’s verified contact information.
• Google requires that government agencies conducting criminal investigations use a search warrant to compel it to provide a user’s search query information and private content stored in a Google account, like Gmail messages, documents, photos, and YouTube videos.
“We’re proud of our approach, and we believe it’s the right way to make sure governments can pursue legitimate investigations while we do our best to protect your privacy and security,” Drummond said
So in a battle for primarily our information Google withholds its stance that it’s users safety and privacy is at the forefront of its policies. However Drummond is quick to distance Google from any user who may use the service as a criminal act. As I’m sure we can all agree on the fact that there is dangerous material on the web that should be monitored so that it isn’t exploited and used to harm others, but where is the line drawn on “criminal activity?” Should users be punished for downloading music and film in the same vein as those looking at more corrupt information for example bomb making? Is it us the users who are to blame for the acts of online piracy or should the sites involved be the ones paying the price? Let us know what your stance is on online privacy in the comments below.
