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Who knew watching a YouTube video would land them in trouble? Turns out the Federal Investigation Bureau (FBI) has asked Google to hand over certain details about users who watch certain YouTube videos as a part of an ongoing large-scale criminal investigation.
According to now-unsealed court documents as viewed by Forbes, the FBI orders Google to release names, telephoto numbers, addresses, user activity, and IP addresses of YouTube accounts who watched certain videos created as a part of a sting operation.
The report states FBI created a YouTube channel bearing the username “elonmuskwhm” where they posted videos connected to a bust on virtual cryptocurrency laundering. The investigators sent out public YouTube videos consisting of tutorials on mapping using drones and augmented reality software. The video in question has been viewed by more than 30,000 times including from users who are unrelated to the case.
Google was ordered to release details of YouTube viewer data for a specific period of January 1st to January 8th, 2023. It remains unclear whether Google complied with the request or denied the same concerning user privacy at risk.
Investigators say it’s ‘legally justified’ to share user data
The investigators supported the request tagging it ‘legally justified’ given how material it could be towards the ongoing criminal investigation. Additionally, other police forces have requested Google to hand over viewer data about the New Hampshire bomb live streams.
When asked, Matt Bryant at Google, told Forbes that they have set up a rigorous process to take in requests from police forces that respects user’s privacy and constitutional rights while emphasizing how useful the data would be for law enforcement authorities. Google has been clear about refusing to hand over user data on a routine basis only to comply when there’s legal validity with the ongoing investigation.
The other bitter side of the die
Police authorities seeking user data from YouTube and other platforms to investigate an ongoing criminal case may help them find the perps. However, it sends out a strong privacy snarl signal as well given how it violates users’ privacy, and the First and Fourth amendments of the US Constitution.
Privacy experts have tagged such incidents as terrifying and unconstitutional. However, the truth is, it is happening every day where police authorities use one or other tactics to transfer search warrants into digital dragnets, says Albert Fox-Cahn – executive director at the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project.
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