Google Admits Handing over European User Data to US Intelligence Agencies - Polidicks

[quote][B]Google has admitted complying with requests from US intelligence agencies for data stored in its European data centers, most likely in violation of European Union data protection laws.[/B] Gordon Frazer, Microsoft UK's managing director, made news headlines some weeks ago when he admitted that Microsoft can be compelled to share data with the US government regardless of where it is hosted in the world. At the center of this problem is the USA PATRIOT ACT, which states that companies incorporated in the United States must hand over data administered by their foreign subsidiaries if requested. Not only that, but they can be forced to keep quiet about it in order to avoid exposing active investigations and alert those targeted by the probes. This situation poses a serious problem for companies like Microsoft, Google or Amazon, which offer cloud services around the world, because their subsidiaries must also respect local laws. For example, European Union legislation requires companies to protect the personal information of EU citizens and this is clearly not something that Microsoft, Google, Amazon, or any of their EU customers can do. This is not only a theoretical problem. According to German-language magazine WirtschaftsWoche [[URL="http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=de&tl=en&u=http://www.wiwo.de/politik-weltwirtschaft/google-server-in-europa-vor-us-regierung-nicht-sicher-476338/"]Google translate[/URL]], a Google spokesperson confirmed that the company has complied with requests from US intelligence agencies for data stored in its European data centers. The situation is likely to spark an official inquiry from the European Commission, with some members of the European Parliament already reacting to the stories. It's hard to foresee what kind of solution can be found at this point, but one thing's clear - US-based cloud providers operating in EU can be forced to break the law. European companies and government agencies that are using their services are also in a tough position.[/quote] Source: [URL]http://news.softpedia.com/news/Google-Admits-Handing-over-European-User-Data-to-US-Intelligence-Agencies-215740.shtml[/URL] Do no evil my ass.

no one is safe

blame the patriot act not google [QUOTE]At the center of this problem is the USA PATRIOT ACT, which states that companies incorporated in the United States must hand over data administered by their foreign subsidiaries if requested.[/QUOTE]

they had no right to give the US info

It's not like nobody knew.

[QUOTE=krakadict;31672368]they had no right to give the US info[/QUOTE] depends where you're looking at it from

Fuck google. now that we have bing they will become redundant >:D

[QUOTE=Wii60;31672357]blame the patriot act not google[/QUOTE] Woah... That is the most stupid law I have ever seen.

I hate how the us seem to think they can police the world and shit.

People think they still have privacy? Wake up, you don't. The PATRIOT Act is bullshit.

This is not Google's fault, the Patriot Act basically forces them to hand over information to the U.S. government at their request. No doubt that the U.S. government asked for this information, for what reason, I don't know. Google is one of the better corporations I've seen, at least in the catagory of morality, and I really doubt they did this for their own pleasure. Fuck the Patriot Act.

[QUOTE=Kybalt;31672434]depends where you're looking at it from[/QUOTE] if it was on some super terroist group then A-OK but it wasn't. how'd you like it if a company in EU got some info on US Citizens? the US would throw a shitstorm

[QUOTE=Nanamil;31672391]It's not like nobody knew.[/QUOTE] That doesn't make it any better.

Now watch as the European Commission does.. absolutley nothing, to stop the U.S from violating my civil rights. Edit [quote]The situation is likely to spark an official inquiry from the European Commission, with some members of the European Parliament already reacting to the stories.[/quote] Oh wait, how [I]wrong[/I] I was! An [b]official inquiry!?[/b] Holy shit the US govt must be shitting their pants! I feel safe already!

[QUOTE=Wii60;31672357]blame the patriot act not google[/QUOTE] knew Google was better than that.

[QUOTE=kimr120;31672469]Woah... That is the most stupid law I have ever seen.[/QUOTE] We've known this for awhile now.

[quote] At the center of this problem is the USA PATRIOT ACT, which states that companies incorporated in the United States must hand over data administered by their foreign subsidiaries if requested. [/quote] I'm blaming the US for this one, not Google.

What should happen now: People out of the EU get angry. They call their politicians. They bring it infront of the EU. The EU knocks on the US door. When the US opens their door, EU slaps them. What will happen: fuck all.

Solution, Google sends them bogus data.

Privacy? Every one of you forfeited it by filling a census.

[QUOTE=CabooseRvB;31673430]Privacy? Every one of you forfeited it by filling a census.[/QUOTE] I always fill them out with bogus bullshit, so yeah no.

stupid fucking patriot act, more like hurr give us your dataz act

Illuminati just doing their jobs. We are their slaves.

[QUOTE=rosthouse;31673122]What should happen now: People out of the EU get angry. They call their politicians. They bring it infront of the EU. The EU knocks on the US door. When the US opens their door, EU slaps them. What will happen: fuck all.[/QUOTE] The EU will knock on the door of the US and when it opens the EU will say "Hey....you're doing it again.....cut it out" And the US will say "Lol kay" and continue to do it.

[QUOTE=Hazard Fox;31674053]The EU will knock on the door of the US and when it opens the EU will say "Hey....you're doing it again.....cut it out" And the US will say "Lol kay" and continue to do it.[/QUOTE] Yeah, that's why I said "what SHOULD happen".

Goddamnit America, get your shit together and stop shitting on the rest of the world.

[QUOTE=Miskav;31674332]Goddamnit America, get your shit together and stop shitting on the rest of the world.[/QUOTE] we have to stop shitting on ourselves first

Oh noes! They found out what sick and nasty porn I look at.

The PATRIOT ACT saves more lives! Thanks for doing your patriotic duty, Google!

Guys, it's not the US' fault, it's Europe's (no shit the US is going to stick it's dick in everyone as long as they bend over and take it). It's Europe that doesn't have the balls to tell them to fucking stop that (which is kind of hard to have when you are 27 different countries each pulling in it's own direction). Europeans hate this but then don't want to give up some national identity. You can't have everything, either we stop being a mass of squabbling howler monkeys or we better get used to stuff like this.