From perusing DailyKos, I gather there is a chill running through the netroots, and it's being misdirected at Google, when the real story is:
The government indicated that other unspecified search engines have agreed to release the information, but NOT Google. (emph. mine)
Whereas other search engines rolled right on over without a fight, Google general counsel said the company will fight "vigorously."
Furthermore, this looks like a major move toward a Unitary Executive (i.e. more powerful presidency). Apparently, simple talk of Alito's confirmation was emboldening enough that they're ready to try using new and improved SCOTUS to create a precedent for the government's Right to Spy.
Details and tips below:
If you haven't read the highly-recommended diary on the subject by Netromancer
http://www.dailykos.com/... or the news, here it is in a nutshell. The Bush Administration wanted one million random web addresses and records of all Google searches for a one week period. The government apparently wants to estimate how much pornography shows up in the searches that children do.
The move is part of a government effort to revive an Internet child protection law struck down two years ago by the U.S. Supreme Court. The government contends it needs the Google data to determine how often pornography shows up in online searches.
So, before you run screaming to Big Brother, check for updates on Search Engine Watch. (
http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/...) So far, Ask Jeeves did not hand over data, because they weren't asked to. Yahoo! and AOL have not responded, and MSN issued some legalese that sounds like they caved. Also, noteworthy, in the same blog, Danny Sullivan describes a better method for the government to get what it wants in a way that doesn't compromise privacy. Ray Everett-Church, a South Bay privacy consultant for internet companies pointed out, "The government can't even claim that it's for national security."
I'm afraid, very afraid. And THAT really makes me nervous. So, the more afraid I get, the more I'm going to act...while I still have the right. Even though I think Power is scared too and when Power is threatened, it becomes very dangerous.
P.S. Think I'll switch to g-mail.