It Isn't Just Google - DOJ Subpoenaed at least 34 Companies

[tedster]

In all the focus on the COPPA-related subpoenas of Google, Yahoo, MSN and AOL, the full reach of this action by the US Department of Justice sort of slipped by general awareness. At least 34 Internet service providers, search companies, and security software firms were involved.

And although the full story isn't yet public, many of these enterprises offered at least some resistance. Notable for their objections to the action are CableVision and Verizon.

The full list of companies subpoenaed by the Department of Justice includes: 711Net (Mayberry USA), American Family Online, AOL, ATT, Authentium, Bell South, Cable Vision, Charter Communications, Comcast Cable Company, Computer Associates, ContentWatch, Cox Communications, EarthLink, Google, Internet4Families, LookSmart, McAfee, MSN, Qwest, RuleSpace, S4F (Advance Internet Management), SafeBrowse, SBC Communications, Secure Computing Corp., Security Software Systems, SoftForYou, Solid Oak Software, Surf Control, Symantec, Time Warner, Tucows (Mayberry USA), United Online, Verizon, and Yahoo.

[url=http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=184401156]InformationWeek article

[garyr_h]

And they are still claiming this is all about children who view adult-material?

Come on. There has to be something more than that... Also, with ISPs getting subpoenas, it's much easier for the government to point out who searched for what. And we were upset about just search engines handing over information...

[edited by: trillianjedi at 11:29 am (utc) on Mar. 30, 2006]
[edit reason] Please respect the word filter.... thanks. [/edit]

[Alex_Miles]

Ever heard of Total Information Awareness?

It probably has a new name by now, but thats the general gist of what they are up to.

Why is anyone's guess, but my next venture will be selling tinfoil hats. I reckon its good business.

[caine]

In addition to American Online, MSN, and Google, the government has demanded information from at least 34 Internet service providers, search companies, and security software firms

can't they look it up on the web? looks like an attack on free-will/speech/expression / or is it alternately protecting children (sounds like - bull and more like an attempt by the US gov to get deeper into everyone's activities/information (BIG BROTHER) so they can spy on the populus).

[skippy]

I personally think is it less about spying and more about controlling information. Search engines are choke points on the interent. Think google china or even AOL.

[Manga]

Whatever the motivation I find it all very disturbing. It's not so much the fact that they have subpoenaed this info now, but what this will prompt them to do in the years to come. The whole slippery slope argument is what concerns me, especially now that we are understanding the reach of these subpoenas.

[Junanagoh]

can't they look it up on the web? looks like an attack on free-will/speech/expression / or is it alternately protecting children (sounds like - bull and more like an attempt by the US gov to get deeper into everyone's activities/information (BIG BROTHER) so they can spy on the populus).

I agree with this statement 100%. We all know that their reason for this is BS.

[Alex_Miles]

They don't want to know the volume of searches for kiddie porn. You can find that data easily. And from what I can see its at about the same level as searches for gay porn.

They want our searches and our IP addressess so it can all go in a little file and be used against us in a court of law. Or worse, no court of law.

As an added bonus, we, in the form of our files, will be packaged up like thanksgiving turkeys and sold to the highest bidders.

These ******s will do anything they please with us and claim its question of 'national security/for the kiddies/bogeyman of the month'.

So..

Who is going to be the first to code something that goes and makes random searches from my IP and looks at random pages? Or better still, code something that gives me a choice of the kind of online profile I want.

As with the adware problem, technological problems can be resolved with technical solutions. We are not helpless here, unless we think we are.

I would very much like whoever ends up funding this to be bankrupted sending me junk mail for BMWs and cruises to Hawaii.