Google handed over years of e-mails belonging to WikiLeaks chatroom admin

Post by spc476 » Sun, Jun 23, 2013, 8:29 PM UTC

superuser2 wrote: post #4

ferdo wrote: post #2

I've never owned a gmail account but have sent to plenty. Gmail is like the 21st century party landline but only a relative few people can listen in. > Because I talked to Julian Assange, all information held by Google relating to my user account with them can be handed over to US prosecutors—not just the contents of my conversations with Julian. There it is: If you have online contact with someone that's of interest…

Have you considered the possibility that we hear about surveillance of GMail accounts only because so many people happen to use GMail? Is there any particular property of Google that makes it more likely to cooperate with government than any other email provider? Or, if you're in the "host your own email" crowd, what makes you think your ISP won't cooperate with the government just like Google does?

Post by spindritf » Sun, Jun 23, 2013, 8:30 PM UTC

superuser2 wrote: post #4

ferdo wrote: post #2

I've never owned a gmail account but have sent to plenty. Gmail is like the 21st century party landline but only a relative few people can listen in. > Because I talked to Julian Assange, all information held by Google relating to my user account with them can be handed over to US prosecutors—not just the contents of my conversations with Julian. There it is: If you have online contact with someone that's of interest…

Have you considered the possibility that we hear about surveillance of GMail accounts only because so many people happen to use GMail? Is there any particular property of Google that makes it more likely to cooperate with government than any other email provider? Or, if you're in the "host your own email" crowd, what makes you think your ISP won't cooperate with the government just like Google does?

Post by packetslave » Sun, Jun 23, 2013, 8:31 PM UTC

acgourley wrote: post #8

Can someone clarify if Google had to reveal they had done this? The article implies that they did not, and thus the reveal was a "not evil" gesture of transparency. But I'm wondering if they may have known it would get out anyway and they are just getting in front of it. Anyone have more information?

Post by jaggederest » Sun, Jun 23, 2013, 8:33 PM UTC

spc476 wrote: post #11

superuser2 wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you considered the possibility that we hear about surveillance of GMail accounts only because so many people happen to use GMail? Is there any particular property of Google that makes it more likely to cooperate with government than any other email provider? Or, if you're in the "host your own email" crowd, what makes you think your ISP won't cooperate with the government just like Google does?

It depends on what you mean by "host your own email." Sure, a server at, say, RackSpace, might be vulnerable to government intrusion without your knowledge, but if you have a physical server at your home, then the best that the government can do (without your knowledge) is to tap your upstream connection, which does little for past emails.

Post by pradocchia » Sun, Jun 23, 2013, 8:35 PM UTC

ferdo wrote: post #2

I've never owned a gmail account but have sent to plenty. Gmail is like the 21st century party landline but only a relative few people can listen in. > Because I talked to Julian Assange, all information held by Google relating to my user account with them can be handed over to US prosecutors—not just the contents of my conversations with Julian. There it is: If you have online contact with someone that's of interest…