February 8, 2010

Google and NSA Partnership: Who is Watching Whom?

Recent reports that Google was negotiating an agreement with the National Security Agency (NSA) to understand the recent cyber-attacks against the company's Gmail service raised eyebrows. The Electronic Privacy Information Center filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the NSA seeking information regarding the relationship between the agency and the largest Internet Search Engine, and service provider in the world. Google made public the attack on its servers and their suspicion that the source was the Chinese Government. There have been long-term concerns regarding China and its willingness to use surveillance on U.S. citizens, agencies, and corporations. Google had cooperated with the Chinese government's policy of censorship of information available to people living within that nation.

Google Asks Spy Agency for Help With Inquiry Into Cyberattacks , John Markoff, New York Times, February 4, 2010