1/19    Feds Seek Google Records in Porn Probe
        http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060119/ap_on_hi_te/google_records
        \_ That's definitely seems to be overreaching.  I hope
           Google can win that one.
        \_ Note that it isn't a specific case they're prosecuting, but a
           desire to find out how often Americans search for (child) porn.
           Also note that AOL, Microsoft, and Yahoo! have already rolled
           over, accepting this child porn explanation; however, the data
           can be used for other purposes ...
           Also note that AOL, Microsoft, and Yahoo! have already rolled over.
           If the stated purpose is to go after pedophiles, I can understand
           their rolling over, but the data can be used for other purposes ...
           They originally asked for a complete list of all search terms and
           returnable URLs over a two-month period, but now they've "limited"
           this to a 1-million-count random sample of queries and returnable
           returned URLs over a two-month period, but now they've "limited"
           this to a 1-million-count random sample of queries and returned
           URLs for a one-day period.
           \_ Are they going to pay for an engineer's time to do this?
              If not, pound sand no matter the reason.
              \_ Whatever about this case but generally speaking, if the
                 request is legal, the business doesn't get expenses.  The
                 alternative is the FBI comes in and confiscates everything
                 in sight and extracts what they need on their own time.
                 Anyway, even if the childish "pay up or pound sand" thing
                 was realistic, the cost would be about 10 minutes since
                 they should have this data easily accessible anyway.  Knowing
                 what is in their logs *is* their business model.
                 \_ While they should have a good database of search queries
                    turning that into a list in the format the gov't wants
                    may be non-trivial.  I could easily see it taking someone
                    A few days if their database is really not set up for this
                    type of thing.  And it does seem like a the sort of thing
                    that cannot be subpoenaed because it's not in reference
                    to a particular crime, or even for investigating a crime.
                    It's basically saying "we demand you do free research for
                    our legal case".
                    \_ By the way, the URL above shows it would take a
                       "disproportionate amount of engineering time and
                       resources" to comply.
                    \_ Exactly. If the FBI wants to send people in (with
                       court orders) to look at the data then feel free,
                       but don't waste my time. Google is not a party to
                       any case, so they shouldn't have to spend time
                       and money on this. They can dump the entire database
                       and let the FBI sort it out on their own time.
                       \_ No, you don't understand.  They don't look at it
                          onsite.  They *take the computers* and look at it
                          later.
                          \_ They wouldn't even know what to take. Dump
                             all the data to a RAID and they can have at it.
                             If it's too much data to fit then you ask
                             them where they want it dumped. They are
                             entitled to the data, not the hardware.
                             \_ Still not getting it.  I'll make it simple for
                                you: the FBI can and would *take the
                                computers*.  *All* of the computers if they
                                felt it necessary.  FBI >>>>>>>>> google.  If
                                google loses in court, they'll have no choice
                                but to hand over everything the Feds want and
                                no they don't get to bill the government for
                                the 5 minutes it will take some geek to write
                                an sql query.