Feds Ordered Google To Unmask Certain YouTube Users. Critics Say It’s ‘Terrifying.’
www.forbes.com
The federal government asked Google to turn over information on anyone who viewed multiple YouTube videos. Privacy experts say the orders are unconstitutional.

If the linked article has a paywall, you can access this archived version instead: https://archive.ph/zyhax

The court orders show the government telling Google to provide the names, addresses, telephone numbers and user activity for all Google account users who accessed the YouTube videos between January 1 and January 8, 2023. The government also wanted the IP addresses of non-Google account owners who viewed the videos.

“This is the latest chapter in a disturbing trend where we see government agencies increasingly transforming search warrants into digital dragnets. It’s unconstitutional, it’s terrifying and it’s happening every day,” said Albert Fox-Cahn, executive director at the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project. “No one should fear a knock at the door from police simply because of what the YouTube algorithm serves up. I’m horrified that the courts are allowing this.” He said the orders were “just as chilling” as geofence warrants, where Google has been ordered to provide data on all users in the vicinity of a crime.

  • Echo DotEnglish
    100·
    7 months ago

    But they’re not committing any crime.

    I say ban the flat earth YouTubers, mostly because their content is so boring.

    • NorthCountryHermitEnglish
      160·
      7 months ago

      Any of those punchable “react face” thumbnails. Dont care what the video is about, if it’s got one of those stupid faces on it, straight to the fuckin’ gulag!

      • tocopherolEnglish
        40·
        7 months ago7 months ago

        From the reports I’ve heard by amateur youtubers, those dumb face thumbnails actually do get them more traction

        • KaryoplasmaEnglish
          50·
          7 months ago

          The algorithm favors clickbait and dumb react thumbnails over regular videos because those are the videos that get “engagement”. Even if said “engagement” is writing a comment about how much the video sucks, it’s a win in YT’s book.

          • nomousEnglish
            60·
            7 months ago

            A major problem with media and algorithms today is exactly as you said. Engagement is engagement and they don’t really care if you’re raging or agreeing as long as you’re Interacting.

          • CryophiliaEnglish
            10·
            7 months ago

            Anyone who enjoys those videos should also be banned. From the internet.

        • Echo DotEnglish
          20·
          7 months ago

          I’ve seen that before but the trouble with that add-on is it just replaces it with a random frame not necessarily one that’s helpful or good. At least the stupid faces actually show you what the video is about.

          • Tick DracyEnglish
            10·
            7 months ago

            The DeArrow extension works with both ways:

            1. If the community submits a thumbnail (you can vote on them) and a better video headline, that will be the default one. I always try to submit the most relevant thumbnail, even if it might be a spoiler one (it’s up to you if you are interested in the context or not).
            2. In the absence of community submitted content, a random thumbnail will be used (still better than the stupid faces).
      • Tick DracyEnglish
        10·
        7 months ago

        I highly recommend using DeArrow, from the same dev from SponsorBlock.

        • NorthCountryHermitEnglish
          10·
          7 months ago

          Nah, I’d rather just not even consume the media. Especially considering video is mostly entertainment media anyways; anything actually useful hidden behind one of those stupid faces, I’ll just find an alternative source.

    • cumEnglish
      20·
      7 months ago

      vtubing should be a crime

      if people haven’t figured out already, this is a joke