Child Online Protection Act; Feds seek Google data in child *advertiser censored* case

Feds seek Google data in child *advertiser censored* case

Report: Search firm resists request for records, saying the Justice Department is overreaching.

January 20, 2006: 9:52 AM EST

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - The Justice Department is asking Internet search giant Google to turn over search records in an effort to defend a child *advertiser censored* law, according to a report published Thursday.

Citing a filing in the U.S. District Court in San Jose, the San Jose Mercury News reported that federal lawyers are hoping to secure information in an effort to defend the constitutionality of the Child Online Protection Act, which was struck down in 1994.

More: http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/19/technology/google_suit/index.htm?cnn=yes

I think its ok as long as thats all they are looking for but I have a feeling this is just another case of the government being too involved in our private lives.

What astounds me is how much kiddy *advertiser censored* related sites will pop up on Google searches without you having to type "Child *advertiser censored*" or "kiddy *advertiser censored*" into the search field.

BillyGoatGruff said:

What astounds me is how much kiddy *advertiser censored* related sites will pop up on Google searches without you having to type "Child *advertiser censored*" or "kiddy *advertiser censored*" into the search field.

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OMG! Once while investigating something during the Michael Jackson case & clicking on related links from a benign website I somehow ended up at a real child *advertiser censored* website. I was sickened and scared to death! I called my local police to report it, they referred me to the state police who did not seem to interested

Linda7NJ said:

OMG! Once while investigating something during the Michael Jackson case & clicking on related links from a benign website I somehow ended up at a real child *advertiser censored* website. I was sickened and scared to death! I called my local police to report it, they referred me to the state police who did not seem to interested

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Sorry to hear that Linda. I once found a man I had worked with on the Doenetwork and sent an email to the dept recommended at the site. After months of hearing nothing I got incontact with a detective there. He did not seem at all interested but took a report. Months later the guy was off the site so I guess they did finally follow thru.
In the case of child *advertiser censored*, I like you, always thought I would automatically report it. After all it is one of the most heinous crimes. I would hate to be shrugged off by someone that didn't want to be bothered by checking it out.

Becba said:

Sorry to hear that Linda. I once found a man I had worked with on the Doenetwork and sent an email to the dept recommended at the site. After months of hearing nothing I got incontact with a detective there. He did not seem at all interested but took a report. Months later the guy was off the site so I guess they did finally follow thru.
In the case of child *advertiser censored*, I like you, always thought I would automatically report it. After all it is one of the most heinous crimes. I would hate to be shrugged off by someone that didn't want to be bothered by checking it out.

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The thing is, if ithe web site is not registered in their district or involving local children, there's not a hell of a lot local cops or the state police can do, since most of this stuff is sitting on servers in other countries.

Why Google Won't Give In

BURLINGAME, CALIF. - Microsoft has a message for consumers who use its search engine: Don't worry, your stuff is safe.

Any information the computer giant hands over as a result of a U.S. Department of Justice subpoena will contain "absolutely no personal data," according to a statement posted on a company blog over the weekend by Ken Moss, general manager of MSN Web Search. "Privacy of our customers is non-negotiable and something worth fighting to protect. We tried to strike the right balance in a very sensitive matter."

... Perhaps the company really is worried about protecting your privacy. Much more likely: It is worried about protecting itself.

The federal government's requests--which amount to a list of 1 million random Web addresses and a week's worth of search queries--is supposed to help the government build a case that Internet *advertiser censored* is readily accessible to minors, thus creating a need for its once-denied Child Online Protection Act (COPA).

More: http://www.forbes.com/technology/ebusiness/2006/01/24/internet-search-porn_cx_ckrr_0124google.html


This is getting interesting.