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Subpoena Resistance Hurts Google Stock
imrec writes "Google stock sees a record 8% decline shortly after news concerning the government's request for Google's search logs broke earlier this week." From the article: "'There are potentially concerns that Google could be in the cross-hairs of the Justice Department,' Kessler said. 'Investors are worried about interest rates and inflation and they felt technology stocks like Google, Apple, Yahoo and others were able to withstand these kinds of pressure. But now that ability is in doubt,'"
I can understand issues being brought up if requested data included the ip's or other forms of user identification, but the request made to Google was for one million pages within their index ( an incredibly small percentage of their complete index, and data that could be easily and freely compiled by conducting automated searches on google itself ) and one week's worth of searches. At no point has the DOJ requested that search terms be accompanied by ip's or userid's of individuals conducting those searches ( which are almost deffinitely stored by google anyway ). How is the request of data unassociated with individual users a breach of privacy?
Statistics are compiled on a number of products/services/figures and released daily. These statistics are generated by analysing individuals personal data, be it related to shopping, travelling, viewing, eating, etc. However when these statistics are compiled, they are done so without any complication or outry, due to the fact that the data analysed is not linked to an individuals identity.
The only problem here is Google's unwillingness to comply with a perfectly reasonable request, in the process defending its actions with its 'Do No Evil' moto to gain further public support and free publicity.
No personal data has been requested, nor would it be neccesary for the case in question.
You said you wanted an ad hominem, right?
No thats what you said, troll. Moderators please note and moderate as such, thanks.
What he can't kill, he has sex on. Trent.
"I am the state".
But maybe you live in China, Cuba or North Korea, that wuld excuse your sorry confussion.
IANAL but write like a drunk one.