Feds Ordered Google To Unmask Certain YouTube Users. Critics Say It’s ‘Terrifying.’
Feds Ordered Google To Unmask Certain YouTube Users. Critics Say It’s ‘Terrifying.’
The federal government asked Google to turn over information on anyone who viewed multiple YouTube videos. Privacy experts say the orders are unconstitutional.
Related: Google just knows who YouTube users are, and can unmask them at will. They definitely won't fix anything to make people safer from that on their platform.
As soon as Google bought YouTube they knew who the users were and everything they did online. This was never not true. Their business is to log all the activity of all internet users, not to make them safe or happy, there is nothing broken in their platform as far as they are concerned.
viewers of select YouTube videos
So, now a policeman who doesn't like whoever YT user can unseal who that is... For a far-right policeman that can be anybody whose comment looks "woke".
I think I shouldn't use YT anymore. Actually, any SNS that uses my email...
Edit: they collected user identities on who watched videos on fucking "drones".
You know that ?si= at the end of the YouTube URL that is copied when you share a video from within the YouTube app?
That's an individual tracking ID specific to you. So if you've ever shared a YouTube video on lemmy, reddit, Facebook, tiktok, or anywhere else without removing that code one time, anyone at Google with access to the ID system can now link you to that account with your real name, IP address and time accessed, device name, etc.
You expect a cop to understand both the threat and entertainment value of a Defcon talk?
Fortunately you can use YouTube without an account
Even better, use an alternative frontend
TBH I'm still surprised that Google still allows this...
I think it they auth walled YT they would see a huge drop in usage (see G+)
No one should fear a knock at the door from police simply because of what the YouTube algorithm serves up
No one should fear a no-knock warrant from a SWAT team because of what the YouTube algorithm serves up.
FIFY.
Most police departments don't bother with doorknocking anymore.
It would be less terrifying if Google had any human employees left.
Honestly, I would trust damn near any rogue AI more than the humans any of these companies will hire any more. The more it wants to kill us as opposed to torturing us or milking us for money, the better, although I woudd prefer it not also hate nature ... but that's optional next to what we have now.
There are tons of front-ends and desktop clients out there, even watch YT sandboxed in Andisearch is an option.