Edina police ask for whole city's Google searches

[MineralMan]

http://www.citypages.com/news/edina-police-ask-for-whole-citys-google-searches-and-a-judge-says-yes/416319633

and a judge says yes.

As detailed in a report from Tony Webster earlier this week, a Hennepin County judge has granted the Edina Police Department an extraordinary degree of access to citizens' Google history, as cops attempt to crack the case of a wire transfer fraud.

In specific, police want to know who has searched for a particular name used as part of that fraud. Typed into Google, a search for the same name -- "Douglas" something, according to a warrant -- also turns up photos that were used on a fake passport by the criminal, who was seeking a fraudulent wire transfer of $28,500.

Cops figure if they could just find out who in that affluent suburb has Googled that name, they'd narrow their suspect list right down. Of course, people's Google search history not only isn't public, it's not usually available to local cops trying to bust a small-time swindler.

The judge allowed the order, but Google plans to fight this one out. The implications for Google users are alarming, to say the least. What have you searched for on Google?

[rpannier]

1. I can honestly say nothing

I use a search engine out of the Netherlands. I would not use yahoo, google, bing or anything like that. It is harder for the US to get warrants from Dutch courts

[Blue_Warrior]

2. Nothing I search for would be of interest to the authorities

I'm just not that interesting. So I use google.

[malthaussen]

3. Well, it's sorta-maybe-kinda-similar to mass DNA tests...

... there is a lot of fuzzy area around the whole "cannot be forced to testify against himself" part of the 5th, and the Courts have tended to rule in favor of law enforcement on them. Disgusting, IMO.

-- Mal