Google and the NSA
It turns out that our friends at Google, who know more about you than you really want them to know, and our friends at the National Security Agency, who REALLY know more about you than you want ANYONE to know, are joining forces. The reason? Google has asked for the NSA to work with them on a project to investigate the recent cracking incidents at Google. Google was deeply penetrated, apparently, and lost some of their intellectual property. They believe it was the work of crackers out of China. Quite possibly, pros working for the Chinese government and/or military.
Ok, it's understandable that Google might approach the NSA for help on this. But it's also extremely scary to see these two outfits working together. It's difficult to imagine, that once collegial relationships are made, that the two biggest know-it-alls in the world will just stop with one project. In my mind, this also makes one wonder about the CCP's (Chinese Communist Party - let's not forget who runs China!) claims that Google is somewhat of an arm, or a partner, to the US government. I mean, here Google is denying all that in China, then they turn around and publicize a partnership with the NSA!! That was intentional in some way, I'm sure, but to what end, I do not know. Make of the story what you will, but don't doubt that there are plenty of opportunities for abuse and cronyism in such a partnership. Just look at the recent FBI story where they obtained 2300 illegal wiretaps (or trace and traps, really) just by ASKING the phone companies for the data! In at least one case, apparently on a POST IT NOTE! hahaha Talk about your warrantless wiretap!! A post it note, people. That's all it took for the FBI to get your private phone records!!
OK that's a little too much government/private partnership for this privacy advocate and general government skeptic. Especially since, it turned out to be completely based on lies from the FBI about false emergencies and so forth.
This also points out something I've often believed about our Federal Government (ok state gov't too) - I believe that they PREFER communications monopolies. They find that one or two big players in any communications field, including even the wild-and-woolly internet business, because it's easier to control just one or two players and easier to get information on citizens (and non-citizens) if they only have a couple of places to look. Just look at the whole history of the magical re-morphing government-sanctioned-amoeba that is the AT&T system if you need evidence for this assertion. There could be thousands more phone companies in this country, but nope - it was built and designed as a monopoly and I believe that part of the motivation (in addition to lucrative lobbyist campaign money) is control. Control over YOU, the American Citizen. Google and the NSA - a partnership from hell? Maybe, I guess we'll just have to see - but it makes me uncomfortable.
Here is the story on Google and the NSA from the NY Times -
