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Court order on YouTube user data fans privacy fears
canada.com — A U.S. judge's order to Google Inc to turn over YouTube user data to Viacom Inc sparked an outcry on Thursday from privacy advocates in the midst of a legal showdown over video piracy.
dagorret- 703 diggs
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- ameologger, on 07/04/2008, -7/+2so !! it's another thing that might or might now be forced on google
they are always do what they like - ferrariman60, on 07/04/2008, -15/+2It's easy to forget that the internet is still pretty much the wild wild west when it comes to regulation and laws. Not as much as it was a few years ago, but privacy laws online are still in their infancy. I will feel a lot better when laws are established and followed, even if I disagree with them. At least then there are ground rules we are all aware of.
- Starshope, on 07/04/2008, -0/+10Agreeing with laws just due to the fact that they are laws can lead you into trouble. ***** laws and court decisions are made all the time. Blind faith in authority isn't the way to go here.
- Elsewhere42, on 07/04/2008, -1/+2*****.
- jfg84, on 07/04/2008, -1/+46We've now reached the point where everybody who uses the internet has the potential to be sued. This is ridiculous.
- OrangeSoda31, on 07/04/2008, -0/+11This is America. Yes, America owns the internet, just look at how the MPAA and RIAA are trying to sue entities in foreign nations.
- Spawn2105, on 07/05/2008, -0/+4This is just plain outrageous.
The Internet should belong to the masses, and a single US Judge shouldnt have the power to force this kind of thing on us. On the upside, i dont think the US legal system can do all TOO much about people abroad, but it still sucks for you guys in the US. I feel for you.
Fight for net neutrality! - bitcloud, on 07/05/2008, -0/+3So why does youtube (or any forum owner) keep user traceable data (IP Addresses)
this data should be encrypted and only decryptable by the users themselves... Users should own, and have full control over their data
if Viacom wants my data, they should have to sue ME for it, and every other of the several million youtube users independently.. it's not googles to give.
- alapoet, on 07/04/2008, -1/+34One more giant leap towards the Total Surveillance Society.
Which sucks.- lennybird, on 07/05/2008, -0/+3What sucks even more is that we realize this, yet what have we done ensure our rights are protected? What can we do? I sure as hell don't know, so I'm all ears.
- bitcloud, on 07/05/2008, -0/+3we've once again consolidated our eggs into one giant corporate basket.
We all KNEW the ***** would hit the fan with google owning all our data... Power isn't inherently corrupt, but it DOES corrupt and it is used by corrupt people. Power is corruptable and WE ALL KNEW IT...
There are plenty of youtube alternatives.
1) use them
2) write some searching technology that searches all these sites and anonymises user data. - fokov, on 07/05/2008, -0/+1Nothing. The problem is allowing someone to track you in the first place. If you don't allow that action, then the data doesn't exist, so I can't be stolen or sold.
- bitcloud, on 07/05/2008, -0/+3we've once again consolidated our eggs into one giant corporate basket.
- reined, on 07/06/2008, -0/+1with the underlying help from religion obscurantism!
- lennybird, on 07/05/2008, -0/+3What sucks even more is that we realize this, yet what have we done ensure our rights are protected? What can we do? I sure as hell don't know, so I'm all ears.
- ephrils1, on 07/04/2008, -0/+15I think this hit the Front Page a day or two ago, but it's worth it to keep showing up if we do something about it.
Who wants to burn down city hall? - Yage2006, on 07/04/2008, -0/+10Let viacom rifle through the data then sue for violating your privacy.
- Zlorp, on 07/04/2008, -2/+9google scares me. they have so much information about every person on the internet. WHAT IF THEY TURN ON US??? OH NO!!!!!!!
- ufia, on 07/04/2008, -0/+2I am not Stephen Colbert
- TWGMichael, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1Ooooh noooes!
- reined, on 07/06/2008, -0/+0stop bashing the less worse!, as do all propaganda junkie!!! (in place check: microsoft, msn, apple and co!)
- ufia, on 07/04/2008, -0/+2I am not Stephen Colbert
- dsmx, on 07/04/2008, -1/+8I don't think Viacom appreciate the sheer volume of data there about to get it will take years to sift through it all and by the time they do all the data will be out of date and useless.
- TWGMichael, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1Hi. A crime is a crime is a crime. The RIAA has already proven that patience and money, above all, WIN. It doesn't matter how long it takes, YOU WILL LOSE! Unless, of course, you choose to pick liberty above convenience.
In which case, wake the F*CK up, and start the revolution! - wharlie, on 07/05/2008, -0/+1I don't think they are going to give it to them on bits of paper.
It will take them about as long to search and sort it as it takes to search your hard drive. - HonoredMule, on 07/05/2008, -0/+1Lawyers are patient--they get paid by the hour.
- jojopumpkin, on 07/05/2008, -0/+2This is just a scare tactic. Even if Viacom gets the info they'll have to jump through huge legal hoops to use that data against anyone. If your not uploading the stuff you needn't worry.
- TWGMichael, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1Hi. A crime is a crime is a crime. The RIAA has already proven that patience and money, above all, WIN. It doesn't matter how long it takes, YOU WILL LOSE! Unless, of course, you choose to pick liberty above convenience.
- HumanRecalled, on 07/04/2008, -7/+0is this just effecting youtube or other viral video sites ? .....I hated youtube ever since Google bought it anyway !
I use http://www.dailymotion.com/ca at least content is obliterated every time it doesn't fall in line ! - MozzieTS, on 07/04/2008, -0/+17'I'M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!'
- vw2005, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1ahh I see what you did there ..........................
.....Viacom the "network". - TWGMichael, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1Then support LIBERTY!
- vw2005, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1ahh I see what you did there ..........................
- LOLPROFIT, on 07/04/2008, -3/+4Viacom issued a statement that said they won't sue individual users for watching videos.
Again, you won't get sued for watching that Daily Show clip eight times.- wexmajor, on 07/05/2008, -1/+1WOW VIACOM SAID IT IT MUST BE TRUE
You're a ***** idiot.- LOLPROFIT, on 07/05/2008, -0/+1So who do you want to assure you that you aren't going to be sued, Tay Zonday?
Why so offensive?
- LOLPROFIT, on 07/05/2008, -0/+1So who do you want to assure you that you aren't going to be sued, Tay Zonday?
- wexmajor, on 07/05/2008, -1/+1WOW VIACOM SAID IT IT MUST BE TRUE
- Enigma776, on 07/04/2008, -2/+8Since when has the US courts decided on what information they can obtain from non US citizens? There not allowed My information due to being in the UK. I love it how the US thinks it owns the internet when in fact it really does not it's the people who own it internationally. Which is why we have a lot of user generated content sites like youtube/digg and so forth.
- Elderon, on 07/04/2008, -0/+4Well if your data was in the UK that would be correct, but (and i'm not a laywer so I may be wrong) if your data is stored on a US. server than your uk laws no longer apply to companies inside the us as they would only obey united states privacy laws not laws set in the uk. UK companies would have to comply with their own laws however.
- TWGMichael, on 07/04/2008, -0/+3CORRECT!
- Enigma776, on 07/05/2008, -0/+3This is where google has a problem then as not all there servers are located in the US, they are in fact located all over the world to meet the demand so my data is probably not in the US to begin with.
- gak001, on 07/05/2008, -0/+1That having been said, suing across international borders is significantly more difficult and costly. I don't think you have anything to worry about.
- reined, on 07/06/2008, -0/+0you forgot that french dwarf, (scuse me dwarfees!), .....Sarcome, i think, playing ultra liberal with the states, (and i didn't speak about UK yet!), and as a catholic church goer, fretting with ichslam, he even forbid class actions in france. for a few things you are more free in the states! (free speach, first amend., and less sexists, ::your HUMAN RIGHTS is here MAN RIGHTS, forget that "french revolution's France", it's more like "back to the past" LOUIS the 14th style with domination of the Catho-Islamo turn of mind!. ANYWAY, more than 15 years 'they' try to own the net, did they succeded?, NO! they can't get OUR metaverse, and they won't.DANCE OR DIE!!!
- Elderon, on 07/04/2008, -0/+4Well if your data was in the UK that would be correct, but (and i'm not a laywer so I may be wrong) if your data is stored on a US. server than your uk laws no longer apply to companies inside the us as they would only obey united states privacy laws not laws set in the uk. UK companies would have to comply with their own laws however.
- Zilk, on 07/04/2008, -1/+5I'm not going to use Youtube unless they figure this ***** out and don't invade my privacy.
Course nothing on the internet is completely private.- TWGMichael, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1And then the LOLCATZ appears and your conviction will waiver.
- reined, on 07/06/2008, -0/+0forgot the loldogz!!!
- TWGMichael, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1And then the LOLCATZ appears and your conviction will waiver.
- wildfire, on 07/04/2008, -2/+6Save us 2girls1cup!
- OrangeSoda31, on 07/04/2008, -0/+9This is sickening.
- Dirtynoodle111, on 07/04/2008, -1/+6Did anyone else have a hard time understanding the title? I sat here and read it for about 5 minutes until I finally understood it.
- fcrow, on 07/04/2008, -0/+2I'm a fan of user data!
- fcrow, on 07/04/2008, -1/+2Hopefully some third party will watch over the data so it don't fall into the wrong evil hands.
- LOLPROFIT, on 07/04/2008, -0/+3The Bush Administration?
- TWGMichael, on 07/05/2008, -1/+3STOP expecting someone else to save you, stand up and protect your own, jack ass! You are your own best advocate! You know what you have to lose!
- bitcloud, on 07/05/2008, -0/+1demand anonymous, non-tracable/encrypted/user owned and controlled user data, or move your business elsewhere
- ren1999, on 07/04/2008, -0/+4I think that Google and the people of the world should initiate a class-action lawsuit against Viacom for violation of privacy. I also think that Google should countersue Viacom for trying to steal its trade secrets of code which has nothing to do with this piracy case.
- palewook, on 07/04/2008, -0/+2the judge in the case is a F'Tard
- ephrils1, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1Well, from what I read not entirely. I think only 2 of Viacom's 5 demands were granted. I think he only granted the list of all removed videos due to copyright and the logging database containing information on every video ever watched on Youtube.
I think the irony is before Google bought out YouTube no videos were taken down for copyright, then Google decided to suddenly go all goody-goody and try to gain some face by doing it. In a way this is lose-lose for Google and Viacom. Google is already the devil for ruining YouTube. Viacom is the devil's brother.
- ephrils1, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1Well, from what I read not entirely. I think only 2 of Viacom's 5 demands were granted. I think he only granted the list of all removed videos due to copyright and the logging database containing information on every video ever watched on Youtube.
- Elsewhere42, on 07/04/2008, -0/+6***** VIACOM!!!
> Viacom issued a statement that said they won't sue individual users for watching videos.
Which explains why they demand to know the IP Addresse of the users who watched any video on You Tube.- Elderon, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1they may be just trying to figure out what regions are uploading the most pirated material, but not actual specific users. I still don't trust them as far as I could throw them so they can all DIAF.
- TWGMichael, on 07/05/2008, -0/+1You are so smart for playing devil's advocate. I like the part where you don't trust them, play to that.
- gak001, on 07/05/2008, -0/+1Dugg for obligatory "***** ____!!!" comment.
- Elderon, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1they may be just trying to figure out what regions are uploading the most pirated material, but not actual specific users. I still don't trust them as far as I could throw them so they can all DIAF.
- Elsewhere42, on 07/04/2008, -1/+1Now I understand the TRUE meaning of this statement on Viacom's website.
> A strong connection to our audiences is what sets us apart from other companies.
(http://www.viacom.com/ourbrands/Pages/default.aspx ... - scarletspidah, on 07/04/2008, -2/+1I hope Vimeo rises and takes over. Vimeo kicks ass.
- wilywondr, on 07/04/2008, -0/+6Why does anyone think google would ever turn this info over just because 1 stupid judge tells them to? Google has deeper pockets than viacom now and going forward. Google will appeal this decision and keep appealing any decisions that go against it and it's corporate interests until viacom is no more.....maybe not long.
End of story.
Viacom, Time Warner, MPAA, RIAA and any other companies/cartels/syndicates that rely on the F'd up interpretation of copyright laws that we have lived under in the US for the past 20 years are finding out/will find out that those profits are history.
Viacom 52-Week Change: -30.14%
Time Warner 52-Week Change: -30.61%
Google 52-Week Change: -0.85%- TWGMichael, on 07/05/2008, -1/+1Do no EVIL. -- Not just a a slogan, a way to convince people that whatever we do we won't be evil even though we're bound by a reality of evil. As a corporate personhood. Yup. Suck it.
- mooseontheloose, on 07/04/2008, -2/+2Read the article, *****
"Viacom responded in a statement that it needs the data to demonstrate video piracy patterns that are the heart of its case against YouTube. But it sought to diffuse privacy fears, saying it had no interest in identifying individual users.
"Viacom has not asked for and will not be obtaining any personally identifiable information of any user," Viacom said.
"Any information that we or our outside advisors obtain ... will be used exclusively for the purpose of proving our case against YouTube and Google (and) will be handled subject to a court protective order and in a highly confidential manner."
I still don't like the ruling but this is NOT a gigantic blow for privacy rights- Fritzel, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1It is however attacking one of the coolest companies this side of 2000 which I am not at all happy about.
- brokensystem, on 07/05/2008, -1/+0Do you believe everything you read? With an IP address they can go after someone if they so choose, regardless of what they're saying now. Kind of like ***** traffic light cameras, the owner of the car might not have been driving when it went through the red light but they sure will get the ticket in the mail.
- Darksaber11, on 07/04/2008, -0/+4It will be interesting to see how this is actually handled. I doubt either of the extreme gut reactions are accurate, but this still makes Viacom look rather suspicious *and* it's a good reminder of how freaking much of everyone's information Google has (if they want to take it).
- weister42, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1They'll be able to figure out who got Rick Rolled the most.
- JoeDean, on 07/05/2008, -1/+0It seems more and more companies are not respecting the privacy of their users. Just last week I read about another popular social networking site releasing private information to marketing companies. I recommend that anyone who cares about keeping their identity safe use a VPN service that conceals and encrypts your internet identity. We use LiteVPN's anonymous VPN service and we love it. You can go to http://LiteVPN.com for more information. I think it only a matter of time before none of our information stays private with internet companies like google.
- c130commnav, on 07/05/2008, -0/+1or you can use tor for FREE
stupid spammer
- c130commnav, on 07/05/2008, -0/+1or you can use tor for FREE
- Paulish, on 07/05/2008, -0/+3In the Republic of The United States, YouTube watches you.
- c130commnav, on 07/05/2008, -0/+1pretty soon we will have to start using services like freenet to surf
- jw1011, on 07/05/2008, -0/+0These corporations are data mining and profiling patterns of viewing, and also profiling individuals based on concurrent use of names (people tend to reuse aliases), geographic locations, and ISPs (all obtainable through IP addresses). Yes, I'm sure they have other databases to mine in conjunction with this one. Very, very scary! Profiling at its best I suppose. IPs when assumed to be private should never be freely given away like this!
- nywtprd, on 07/05/2008, -0/+1http://podblanc.com/judge-orders-google-hand-over- ...
- nywtprd, on 07/05/2008, -0/+1http://podblanc.com/viacom-vs-google
- dsmx, on 07/05/2008, -0/+1It's not as simple as searching through the data, they're going to have to figure out who is in the US, then their going have to see what they uploaded, then they will have to see if it's covered under fair use, then they have to find out who the ip address belongs to. This is all before they have even set up a system that is able to sift through all this data and as we all know the Viacom aren't exactly the most computer literate people.
- kirado4, on 07/05/2008, -0/+1I have not uploaded or watch any of Viacoms products on youtube.. you don't need nor have the right to my information.. steal form me and I will steal from you.. so ***** OFF!
- Jerichofan22, on 08/04/2008, -0/+1Viacom will loose customers over this. We all watch youtube. I have an youtube account so all of videos have watched is going to be look at by Viacom. I agree with all of you. Viacom needs to be stop. I am going to support Google and youtube all the way. Just found out that they are not going after the users of youtube. Viacom needs to be counter sued or something.
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