DOJ Asks Court To Keep Secret Google / NSA Partnership

SonicSpike writes "The Justice Department is defending the government's refusal to discuss — or even acknowledge the existence of — any cooperative research and development agreement between Google and the National Security Agency. The Washington based advocacy group Electronic Privacy Information Center sued in federal district court here to obtain documents about any such agreement between the Internet search giant and the security agency. The NSA responded to the suit with a so-called 'Glomar' response in which the agency said it could neither confirm nor deny whether any responsive records exist. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon in Washington sided with the government last July."

Comments

Re:Who really cares?

[TheRaven64]

Wrong agency. The CIA has ties to Facebook, the NSA has ties to Google.

not an either/or, though, is it?

[TheGratefulNet]

quote:

EPIC said its records request does not seek documents about NSA's role to secure government computer networks. "Google provides cloud-based services to consumers, not critical infrastructure services to the government," Rotenberg said.

once google 'grew up' and got cozy with the government, I don't think there's any going back. they are *both* for the consumer (if you think that way) and now they are also a source of info feed for the government agencies.

I don't think google set out to do this, when they were a 1000 person company or less; but at their huge successful size and power, now, I don't see how you can exist and not be forced to 'play ball' when ask^Htold to by those who really run things.

with all the data google has, do you really think the gov would sit back and not ask for a fiber tap and a cut of the action, so to speak? come on.

only some of the googlers would be able to deal with this, and it ruins the whole 'do no evil' sunshine and ponies bullshit game they play. whatever ties there are, it won't be confirmable or made public. not even from inside the normal rank and file. but the same as any large powerful company that has things the government wants.

its always been this way, though. don't be shocked. companies and governments are powerful entities and from time to time, they 'have lunch' together.

"its all part of the plan" ;)

Re:well, duh

[poetmatt]

Actually, you can replace google with any large technology company - not just microsoft or apple, and the issue is the same.
Don't forget: Cisco, Riverbed, any MPLS complaint devices, any internet-facing devices, DNS, ISPs, TIVO, etc.

The list is way, way, way bigger than Google. Not a good thing but something worth highlighting.