Live data from Hacker News

Google Admits Handing over European User Data to US Intelligence Agencies

news.softpedia.com

21–30 of 91 posts

Re: Google Admits Handing over European User Data to US Intelligence Agencies

#21
post #5

"Do no evil" -- What do you think? Does this qualify as a breach of their motto? Or is it only a clear message to those who may have thought their Google data is private?

When the government (that your business operates) is requiring you to hand over data what do you do? Is it Google's fault or the US government? I certainly don't think complying with the law is "evil". If the law is bad, fix the law.

Re: Google Admits Handing over European User Data to US Intelligence Agencies

#22
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Patriot Act seems to trump EU law in many cases, as security fears oft trump privacy concerns. It's a good discussion to be had for sure, am I'm sure EU parliament members will debate it in length: They don't seem to have tried to hide anything. From another report: http://www.h-online.com/security/news/item/Google-also-passe... The previous Microsoft admission that sparked this line of questioning: http://www.h-…

How does the "The Patriot Act seem to trump the EU law" ? In what sense? I reject the idea that a US law is more important in Europe than an European one. If that is what has happened, then it is wrong. If nothing was hidden, why is this policy only coming to light after the fact? There seems to be some degree of not wanting people to know.

I'm sure that a secret agreement between EU governments and the US have been reached, as is the case when security is involved.

Re: Google Admits Handing over European User Data to US Intelligence Agencies

#23
post #5

"Do no evil" -- What do you think? Does this qualify as a breach of their motto? Or is it only a clear message to those who may have thought their Google data is private?

While I'm an open critic of Google I don't think in this case its a breach of that motto. Maybe a failure to disclose obligations to users.

Most people would understand the real culprit is the government. Microsoft and Amazon space there data centres geo graphically for a few reasons, and this is one of them.

Re: Google Admits Handing over European User Data to US Intelligence Agencies

#24
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Patriot Act seems to trump EU law in many cases, as security fears oft trump privacy concerns. It's a good discussion to be had for sure, am I'm sure EU parliament members will debate it in length: They don't seem to have tried to hide anything. From another report: http://www.h-online.com/security/news/item/Google-also-passe... The previous Microsoft admission that sparked this line of questioning: http://www.h-…

How does the "The Patriot Act seem to trump the EU law" ? In what sense? I reject the idea that a US law is more important in Europe than an European one. If that is what has happened, then it is wrong. If nothing was hidden, why is this policy only coming to light after the fact? There seems to be some degree of not wanting people to know.

From the article "but they [the companies] can be forced to keep quiet about it in order to avoid exposing active investigations and alert those targeted by the probes."

There are a number of reasons why both the government and the companies would want to keep it secret:

1. Bad reputation for the company.

2. Bad reputation for the government on how much spying they actually are doing.

3. "keep quiet about it in order to avoid exposing active investigations" (this point I would think to be irrelevant in this case however)

Re: Google Admits Handing over European User Data to US Intelligence Agencies

#25
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Patriot Act seems to trump EU law in many cases, as security fears oft trump privacy concerns. It's a good discussion to be had for sure, am I'm sure EU parliament members will debate it in length: They don't seem to have tried to hide anything. From another report: http://www.h-online.com/security/news/item/Google-also-passe... The previous Microsoft admission that sparked this line of questioning: http://www.h-…

"The Patriot Act seems to trump the EU law in many cases" For the parts of Google in the US - yes. For the parts of Google in the EU - no.

But the parts of Google in the US shouldn't have access to EU citizens' information if they're upholding the EU law

Re: Google Admits Handing over European User Data to US Intelligence Agencies

#26
post #8
post #3

Corporations based and operating in the US are subject to the PATRIOT Act, it's a shitty law but it's still the law. At least they are transparent about it. Edit: here is the article in question: http://www.wiwo.de/politik-weltwirtschaft/google-server-in-e... They asked if their EU based dataceters are also subject to US warrants and they answered that they are.

And corporations based and operating in Europe are subject to our data protection laws. Microsoft and Google (and plenty others) have fully fledged companies in Europe. This raises an interesting question - what should companies do when they are subject to mutually exclusive laws like that? My opinion is that they need to comply with the laws, which might require not having overseas companies in this case. Could they…

It's not about earnings. Having datacenters in europe would still require them to respect the laws in europe. They need those datacenters for latency and plenty of other reasons. If they were forced to only reside in the US or in Europe it would make for a shitty experience for where they are not.

And going to europe isn't really feasible when most of the developers they hire come from the US. They could come to Canada if they want (they already have offices but they could just move the head office.) :)

Basically this is another law that fails to face the reality of globalization and is a strong overreach of the US Gov. It's potentially also destroying jobs if companies as you say must choose a place to be in.

Re: Google Admits Handing over European User Data to US Intelligence Agencies

#27
post #16

Corporations operating in the EU are subject to EU data protection laws. It does not matter if the PATRIOT Act forces them to hand this data over. They are breaking the law in the EU. Google had two choices: 1. Don't hand over the data => they break the US law 2. Hand over the data => they break EU law plus hand over personal data of users who might not want that To me choice number one would be the lesser "evil" thi…

Well, let's hope that legislators drag their feet on this, until good practices have been bedded down for them to codify.

Re: Google Admits Handing over European User Data to US Intelligence Agencies

#28
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"European Union legislation requires companies to protect the personal information of EU citizens" It's the law. What's more, it's a good law. I am concerned that they broke it, and seem to have tried to hide this.

The Patriot Act seems to trump EU law in many cases, as security fears oft trump privacy concerns. It's a good discussion to be had for sure, am I'm sure EU parliament members will debate it in length: They don't seem to have tried to hide anything. From another report: http://www.h-online.com/security/news/item/Google-also-passe... The previous Microsoft admission that sparked this line of questioning: http://www.h-…

I don't understand why you think that the Patriot Act seems to trump the EU law. The companies have separate subsidiaries in Europe. What the Patriot Act seams to be doing is Piercing the corporate veil. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piercing_the_corporate_veil. Making the EU company break EU law.

Re: Google Admits Handing over European User Data to US Intelligence Agencies

#29
post #8
post #3

Corporations based and operating in the US are subject to the PATRIOT Act, it's a shitty law but it's still the law. At least they are transparent about it. Edit: here is the article in question: http://www.wiwo.de/politik-weltwirtschaft/google-server-in-e... They asked if their EU based dataceters are also subject to US warrants and they answered that they are.

And corporations based and operating in Europe are subject to our data protection laws. Microsoft and Google (and plenty others) have fully fledged companies in Europe. This raises an interesting question - what should companies do when they are subject to mutually exclusive laws like that? My opinion is that they need to comply with the laws, which might require not having overseas companies in this case. Could they…

I'm merely guessing, but seeing how the law takes a backseat when security and anti-terror are involved I suppose that EU governments and the US have reached some sort of agreement about which set of laws to enforce in certain cases.

Re: Google Admits Handing over European User Data to US Intelligence Agencies

#30
post #7

One solution might be for Google to spin off its EU datacenter operations into a company incorporated outside of US jurisdiction. The Patriot Act would then no longer apply and Google would not be force to break EU law.

They almost certainly have local operating companies that are wholly owned subsidiaries of the US parent company - just having a separate company isn't enough I suspect that separate ownership would also be requried.

They could set up special purpose vehicles, with very clear operating rules. That way, if the US asks, Google can say that they have no control over the subsidiary.
Post reply on HN