US authorities require Google to reveal the identities of viewers of certain YouTube videos

by alex

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Власти США требуют от Google раскрыть личности зрителей определенных видео на YouTube

US federal authorities asked Google for names, addresses, phone numbers and activities account users who viewed specific videos on YouTube between January 1 and January 8, 2023. People who watched these videos without logging in were also not safe as the government also asked for their IP addresses. Investigators are asking Google to hand over information as part of an investigation into a person who uses the online username elonmuskwhm.

Authorities suspect that elonmuskwhm is selling bitcoins for cash and thus violating money laundering laws, as well as running an unlicensed money transfer business. The undercover agents reportedly sent the suspects links to YouTube videos with tutorials for mapping using drones and augmented reality software during their conversations. These videos, however, were not private, and in total they were viewed more than 30 thousand times. Thus, the government was potentially asking Google for confidential information about a fairly large number of users.

“These recordings are believed to be relevant and material to an ongoing criminal investigation, including the provision of identifying information about criminals,” authorities said.

According to the documents, the court granted the request for information, but asked Google to keep it secret. It is also unclear whether Google handed over the data that the authorities demanded.

In another case, authorities also asked the company to provide a list of accounts that “viewed and/or interacted with” eight YouTube livestreams. Police asked for this information after they learned they were being followed during the stream as they searched the area following a report of explosives planted in a trash bin. One of these live video broadcasts was published by the Boston and Maine Live account, which has more than 130 thousand subscribers.

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A Google spokesperson said the company follows a “rigorous process” to protect the privacy of its users. But critics and privacy advocates are concerned that government agencies are using their powers to obtain sensitive information about people who accidentally watched specific videos on YouTube and are in no way doing anything illegal.

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“What we look at online can reveal very sensitive information about us—our political views, our passions, our religious beliefs and much more,” said John Davison , Senior Advisor, Electronic Privacy Clearinghouse. “It is fair to expect that law enforcement will not have access to this information without probable cause. This order turns that assumption on its head.”

Власти США требуют от Google раскрыть личности зрителей определенных видео на YouTube

Власти США требуют от Google раскрыть личности зрителей определенных видео на YouTube

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