I don't really feel informed enough about the situation to say anything too useful. But suffice to say, it ain't too cool, and I'm concerned.
I've already expressed my concerns in a song a few years ago [lyrics]. Same company, different country, and in many ways, same
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shit, different day. This is becoming the rule, and not the exception, for technology companies, nowadays.
What do we do when using technology to support over zealous government authorities is just "good business?"
What do we do when it's a company like Google. Who, arguably, none of us could live without?
(Hey, I'm just speaking for myself.)
I don't have any answers. Sorry. Just concerns.
Maybe a little evil: Google outs Indian man to authorities
By Jacqui Cheng, for Ars Technica.
An Indian man was arrested over the weekend for allegedly posting derogatory and vulgar content about Indian politician Sonia Gandhi on Google's social networking site, Orkut. 22-year-old Rahul Krishnakumar Vaid had posted his comments in an Orkut community called "I hate Sonia Gandhi" through an Orkut account associated with his Gmail account. With Google's help, local authorities were able to verify Vaid's identity and make the arrest...
Google admitted today that it had forked over Vaid's information after it was requested by Indian law enforcement. A spokesperson for Google told IDG News Service that, while the company is committed to protecting user privacy, it must obey local laws and legal processes.
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