YouTube ordered to reveal the identities of video viewers

[BOP]

Federal US authorities have asked Google for the names, addresses, telephone numbers, and user activity of accounts that watched certain YouTube videos, according to unsealed court documents Forbes has seen.

Of those users that weren’t logged in when they watched those videos between January 1 and 8, 2023, the authorities asked for the IP addresses.

The starting point of one of the investigations is an entity that uses the handle “elonmuskwhm” and is suspected of money laundering by selling Bitcoin for cash. As part of the investigation, agents sent the suspect links to tutorials on YouTube about mapping via drones and augmented reality software.Then they asked YouTube to send them data about the people that watched that video.

But those video tutorials were not private and had been watched over 30,000 times by the time the agents asked YouTube’s parent company Google for information about the viewers.

In another case, related to a bomb threat, the authorities asked for information about the viewers of eight selected live streams. One of those live streams has over 130,000 subscribers.

The police received a threat from an unknown male that there was an explosive placed in a trash can in a public area. When the police went to investigate the matter, they found out their actions were broadcasted through a YouTube live stream camera. Apparently similar events had taken place before, so for good reason law enforcement is after the evildoers.

But asking for data of that many viewers, many of which we can assume to be innocent bystanders, goes against what privacy experts believe to be reasonable. This type of digital dragnets go against the fourth amendment: freedom from unreasonable searches.

YouTube ordered to reveal the identities of video viewers | Malwarebytes

Federal authorities have asked Google to reveal the identities of people that watched certain videos in at least two investigations.

www.malwarebytes.com

 

[HemiHauler]

Until we are aware if Google complied or not, this is just business as usual post USAPATRIOT Act.

The piece doesn’t indicate if there were warrants or, as the article writes, Google was merely “asked”, which happens all the time. And even if they were asked, did they challenge it?

Google is not pro user privacy (unlike Apple, for example), so no telling if they would comply with a mere “ask” or if they will demand a warrant.

 

[WingsOfGold]

I'm totally hosed!

 

[TPD]

At least my videos are not on the list….yet…

 

[Hijinx]

Federal US authorities have asked Google for the names, addresses, telephone numbers, and user activity of accounts that watched certain YouTube videos, according to unsealed court documents Forbes has seen.

Of those users that weren’t logged in when they watched those videos between January 1 and 8, 2023, the authorities asked for the IP addresses.

The starting point of one of the investigations is an entity that uses the handle “elonmuskwhm” and is suspected of money laundering by selling Bitcoin for cash. As part of the investigation, agents sent the suspect links to tutorials on YouTube about mapping via drones and augmented reality software.Then they asked YouTube to send them data about the people that watched that video.

But those video tutorials were not private and had been watched over 30,000 times by the time the agents asked YouTube’s parent company Google for information about the viewers.

In another case, related to a bomb threat, the authorities asked for information about the viewers of eight selected live streams. One of those live streams has over 130,000 subscribers.

The police received a threat from an unknown male that there was an explosive placed in a trash can in a public area. When the police went to investigate the matter, they found out their actions were broadcasted through a YouTube live stream camera. Apparently similar events had taken place before, so for good reason law enforcement is after the evildoers.

But asking for data of that many viewers, many of which we can assume to be innocent bystanders, goes against what privacy experts believe to be reasonable. This type of digital dragnets go against the fourth amendment: freedom from unreasonable searches.

YouTube ordered to reveal the identities of video viewers | Malwarebytes

Federal authorities have asked Google to reveal the identities of people that watched certain videos in at least two investigations.

www.malwarebytes.com

I am pretty sure the FBI is not Worrying too much about anyone's privacy.

 

[vraiblonde]

I think you shouldn't expect privacy on something as public as the internet. And if you commit a crime using the internet, you should expect at least a knock on the door if not a full blown raid.

The problem, of course, is that we know now we can't trust our federal law enforcement to be upright and professional. They are obviously and blatantly corrupt, not to mention politically partisan. No better than the Gestapo. They don't even bother to try and hide it anymore.

I'm thinking this will be corrected in the coming years, but right now it's a concern.

 

[GURPS]

And if you commit a crime using the internet, you should expect at least a knock on the door if not a full blown raid.

Yeah the Crime of being a Trump Supporter

 

[gary_webb]

I think you shouldn't expect privacy on something as public as the internet. And if you commit a crime using the internet, you should expect at least a knock on the door if not a full blown raid.

The problem, of course, is that we know now we can't trust our federal law enforcement to be upright and professional. They are obviously and blatantly corrupt, not to mention politically partisan. No better than the Gestapo. They don't even bother to try and hide it anymore.

I'm thinking this will be corrected in the coming years, but right now it's a concern.

Or the Gestapopo.

Gestapopo = Armed authorities that arrive at your domicile that may or may not know your rights.