Google: US law enforcement tried to get videos removed from YouTube

[autorank]

THREE CHEERS FOR GOOGLE

Google: US law enforcement tried to get videos removed from YouTube
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/oct/25/google-transparency-report-released

The technology giant's biannual transparency report reveals a 70% rise in takedown requests from US government or police



Josh Halliday
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 25 October 2011 13.22 EDT

Google faced down demands from a US law enforcement agency to take down YouTube videos allegedly showing police brutality earlier this year, figures released for the first time show.

The technology giant's biannual transparency report shows that Google refused the demands from the unnamed authority in the first half of this year.

According to the report, Google separately declined orders by other police authorities to remove videos that allegedly defamed law enforcement officials.

The demands formed part of a 70% rise in takedown requests from the US government or police, and were revealed as part of an effort to highlight online censorship around the world.

[markpkessinger]

1. Glad to hear Google declined the takedown requests, but ...

... why have they not been similarly resistant to censorship by the Chinese government?

[EOTE]

9. This is just a guess.

China already censors its internet. If they wanted to, I'd imagine they'd have no problem simply blocking Google altogether. Instead, Google complies with their demands and doesn't get blocked. I'd imagine they think having a censored presence in China is better than having no presence whatsoever.

[MADem]

2. Well, maybe they need to name those kinds of things "Puppies and Kitties"

to throw 'em off the scent!

At least Google stood up--sometimes they don't.

[RoccoR5955]

3. They gotta keep their propaganda machine going.

They can't do it with those pesky videos on YouTube.

[woo me with science]

4. K&R

So Google did something right. Hopefully it was a good experience for them, and they will try to start doing better in other areas, as well.

But this is the particularly disturbing part: "The demands formed part of a 70% rise in takedown requests from the US government or police, and were revealed as part of an effort to highlight online censorship around the world."

[chill_wind]

13. Whoa!

That is eye-popping.

[woo me with science]

5. SEVENTY PERCENT RISE in censorship requests by the US government or police.

That is the most important part of this story.

The demands formed part of a 70% rise in takedown requests from the US government or police, and were revealed as part of an effort to highlight online censorship around the world.

Figures revealed for the first time show that the US demanded private information about more than 11,000 Google users between January and June this year, almost equal to the number of requests made by 25 other developed countries, including the UK and Russia.

Governments around the world requested private data about 25,440 people in the first half of this year, with 11,057 of those people in the US.

It is the first time Google has released details about how many of its users are targeted by authorities, as opposed to the number of requests made by countries.



Note the other major post today:

Obama Admin Seeks Permission TO LIE In Response To FOI Requests - Even To The COURTS
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2185303


This is deadly serious stuff. We need to take back our government.

[justiceischeap]

6. Kick 'cause it should be seen. nt

[redqueen]

7. This, combined with the attempt to get out of FOIA requests...

scary stuff.

[Festivito]

8. Such requests SHOULD NOT be anonymous and be posted a click away. /nt

[TBF]

10. K&R nt

[blindpig]

11. We ain't seen nothin' yet.

And when push come to shove Google will fold.

[woo me with science]

12. Kick. nt

[Fire Walk With Me]

14. We owe Google this much. K&R!