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Google Fulfilled ICE Subpoena Demanding Student Journalist Credit Card Number

theintercept.com

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Re: Google Fulfilled ICE Subpoena Demanding Student Journalist Credit Card Number

#51

Post by pixl97 »

Anonbrit wrote: post #20
x1ph0z wrote: post #17

What are some ways users can insulate themselves from something like this?

Don't use products from large US tech companies? Apple has a slightly better track record than Google of fighting this stuff, but ultimately if you're using a product from a US tech company then it's likely ICE can get their grubby little mitts on everything that company knows about you

I'm guessing your constraint is impossible as living in the US pretty much requires banking and working with companies that will gladly give government agencies your information. I severely doubt that tech is the only group doing this.

Re: Google Fulfilled ICE Subpoena Demanding Student Journalist Credit Card Number

#53

Post by agilob »

saubeidl wrote: post #24
agilob wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Blizzard, Microsoft come to mind

Blizzard is a bunch of sex pests and Microsoft is the guys with the AI upsells on every inch of their OS...

Wasn't Blizzard pretty alright back when Diablo 2 was released? and then LoD?

Re: Google Fulfilled ICE Subpoena Demanding Student Journalist Credit Card Number

#54

Post by panarky »

Anonbrit wrote: post #20
x1ph0z wrote: post #17

What are some ways users can insulate themselves from something like this?

Don't use products from large US tech companies? Apple has a slightly better track record than Google of fighting this stuff, but ultimately if you're using a product from a US tech company then it's likely ICE can get their grubby little mitts on everything that company knows about you

Is there any evidence that Apple fights administrative subpoenas issued by US federal agencies?

Or is Google just more transparent than Apple about the government orders it complies with?

For example, after the Department of Justice demanded app stores remove apps that people use to track ICE deployments, Apple was the first to comply, followed later by Google.

Re: Google Fulfilled ICE Subpoena Demanding Student Journalist Credit Card Number

#55

Post by crooked-v »

legitster wrote: post #32

So I don't think I actually have a problem with businesses handing over their customer data if there is a valid warrant or subpoena. That's the system working as intended. The main crux of the problem here is that the DHS has been granted a wide berth by congress to issue administrative subpoenas - i.e. not reviewed by a real judge and not directed at criminals. In "good" times this made investigations run smoothly.…

"Administrative subpoenas" have always been bullshit that mostly rely on there being no penalty for companies that hand over user information to anyone with a badge and then justify it with a five-hundred-page TOS document.

Re: Google Fulfilled ICE Subpoena Demanding Student Journalist Credit Card Number

#59

Post by linkregister »

crooked-v wrote: post #55
legitster wrote: post #32

So I don't think I actually have a problem with businesses handing over their customer data if there is a valid warrant or subpoena. That's the system working as intended. The main crux of the problem here is that the DHS has been granted a wide berth by congress to issue administrative subpoenas - i.e. not reviewed by a real judge and not directed at criminals. In "good" times this made investigations run smoothly.…

"Administrative subpoenas" have always been bullshit that mostly rely on there being no penalty for companies that hand over user information to anyone with a badge and then justify it with a five-hundred-page TOS document.

Google, among most other tech companies, deny portions of administrative warrants. Here's a story about someone who was stressed out about their notification by Google (spoiler, Google decided to deny the government's request)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2026/02/03/hom...

edit: It appears that this outcome is an outlier and most admin warrants are honored. It is unfortunate to see the Washington Post decline in reliability like this.

Re: Google Fulfilled ICE Subpoena Demanding Student Journalist Credit Card Number

#60

Post by nickthegreek »

InitialLastName wrote: post #15
hsuduebc2 wrote: post #8

Just out of curiosity. Are there any companies today that are seen the way Google used to be seen, as a generally “good” corporation/companies that are also a important player? Maybe Mozilla Foundation?

Anthropic seems to be chasing that angle (c.f. their run of "AI that doesn't advertise to you" commercials).

They have contracts with Palantir.
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