Even while Google presents a public image of vigorously protecting its users’ privacy, it has quietly provided assistance to several U.S. intelligence agencies, such as the Central Intelligence Agency and Defense Intelligence Agency, as the U.S. prosecutes its war on terrorism. In addition, Google may be providing assistance to the National Security Agency.
IT contractors and intelligence officials familiar with the arrangement confirmed to HSToday.us that Google had been providing assistance to the intelligence community, but would not say under what authority that assistance had been requested or provided.
The intelligence community appears to be interested in data mining Google’s vast store of information on each user who uses Google’s services. Google collects data on each user’s search queries, which web sites users visited after making a query, and through its Google Analytics service, can also track users on cooperating web sites. It’s not clear what level of access to or how much of this information has been made available to intelligence agencies.
The contractor, who spoke on a not-for-attribution basis, said that at least one US intelligence agency he declined to identify is working to “leverage Google’s [user] data monitoring” capability as part of an effort by the IC to glean from this data information of “national security intelligence interest” in the war on terror. . . .
One of the sources did say, however, that the CIA’s Office of Research and Development “has been giving them additional money and guidance and requirements.”
Last November, the CIA – through In-Q-Tel [CIA venture capital company] – issued notices to sell $2.2 million worth of Google stock.
Robert David Steele, intelligence veteran and CEO of OSS.Net, Inc. which sponsored last week’s event, told HSToday.us Tuesday evening that “Google is being actively hypocritical and deceptive in playing up its refusal to help the Department of Justice when all along it has been taking money and direction for elements of the US Intelligence Community, including the Office of Research and Development at the Central Intelligence Agency, In-Q-Tel, and in all probability, both the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Army’s Intelligence and Security Command.”
Steele added, “I have no doubt that Google, in its arrogance, decided it could make a deal with the devil and not get caught.” — HSToday.us
If you are extremely concerned about the possibility that your private browsing information is going to wind up in the hands of U.S. intelligence agencies, you can throw a spanner in the works by blocking cookies from the following domains: google.com, googlesyndication.com, google-analytics.com, and your country-specific Google domain (e.g. google.co.uk). If you actually use Google services, such as Google Mail, then this obviously will prevent you from using those services.
Even with cookies blocked, a limited amount of user tracking is possible, so unless you really are a terrorist, it probably isn’t worth the trouble. I still have all of my Google Cookies. Then again, I already know they’re watching me…
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The end of a war, to most people, means all the troops come home, out of harm's way. It means we stop killing people and getting killed. It means we stop sending troops and armed personnel over and draining our treasury for military operations in that foreign land. But much like the infamous "mission accomplished" moment of the last administration, this "end" of the war also means none of those things.
How could giving more Americans an ownership stake in society be bad? When the housing market heated up to the breaking point everything came crashing down. Those suddenly facing foreclosure saw the reality of government compassion. Truly, when government offers you a gift, you should eye it with great suspicion.
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Anonymous
Feb 27, 2006
That may be very well so that Google is cooperating with the various intelligence services. The FBI, CIA, NSA, DIA have a way of coming across pretty heavy handed, despite the law, and intimidate people who either resist or hint of not cooperating. So, it only stands to reason Google would cooperate. However, they could only find less than a dozen of people they call “terrorist” in this country out of the 375,000 names they collected, who mostly from overseas. So, by their own admission, it is pretty evident there was never a need for the Patriot Act, and all this silly spying on Americans using the internet. They have had 4 years and several billion dollars at their disposal to find terrorists. So far, they really don’t seem to know what they are looking for other than go through the motions of looking like they are doing something in the name of Homeland Security.
Oct 27, 2006
Another Day in the Empire
Oct 30, 2006
Searching For Evil-Do-ers
Oct 30, 2006
Google intelligence cooperation reprise - Homeland Stupidity
Anonymous
Oct 30, 2006
Google probably uses IP addresses to track users. You can avoid this by using the EFF’s TOR, which is available at http://tor.eff.org/
Oct 31, 2006
Joe Grossberg
Oct 31, 2006
Google lauscht für die NSA? auf F!XMBR
Oct 31, 2006
David Henderson’s Blog » Blog Archive » So Google How Do I Opt Out of This?
Michael Hampton
Oct 31, 2006
Anonymous, as I said yesterday, using Tor is not enough.
Oct 31, 2006
The SpywareGuide Greynets Blog
Anonymous
Nov 01, 2006
In-Q-Tel is selling Google stock because they were an early investor in Keyhole, which was sold to Google and became Google Earth. So they got Google shares in exchange for their Keyhole investment.
Nov 01, 2006
Karel Donk » Archive » Google ‘in bed’ with CIA
Nov 02, 2006
Google denies intelligence cooperation - Homeland Stupidity
Nov 03, 2006
Google dice que no duerme con la CIA
Nov 03, 2006
Apogee Search Marketing Blog | SEO | PPC | Google | Yahoo » Blog Archive » Google: No CIA Connection
Nov 06, 2006
» Google und die US Geheimdienste » Blog Archive » Hertz-lich gebloggt…
Dec 13, 2006
彼岸 » 留言照登
Jan 03, 2007
Error Forum Blog » Blog Archive » Searching For Evil-Do-ers
Apr 17, 2007
Journal de la guerre qui vient » Blog Archive » Google, champ de bataille USA-Chine
Concerned Patron
Feb 07, 2008
I’m sure there capable of watching all of us. and they are doing it. Wake up.
Feb 10, 2010
Seeds of silence « Nicholforest's Blog
N
May 21, 2010
Google is evil.
Google is spying on you.
Goggle doesn’t respect your privacy nor your rights.
Google is the biggest spy on earth.
Recently Google harvested data from unprotected WiFi access points.
Google is cooperating with One World Government’s agenda.
Google is a US/CIA-NSA-whatever crap puppet.
Jun 14, 2010
Lo sviluppo di Google e la schizofrenia | nero