Google Warns of U.S. Government "Hacking" of Any Facility in the World

There have been a great number of internet giants who have spoken up against the recent rise in Internet surveillance, privacy violation, and data collection by the government (Which one? Take your pick. *Insert disgusted, cartoon-esque spittoon clank here*). These powers include Dropbox, Yahoo, Facebook, AOL, Microsoft, Apple, Reddit, Wikipedia, Twitter, LinkedIn, but not the least of which Google.

Now, with the social power to back their words up, Google has taken a strong opposing standpoint against the United States Department of Justice, who is attempting to further the already overreaching power of the government. This proposal would give the United States federal government the power to hack into any servers, no matter where they were located, giving them unlimited access to a vast amount of private information.

So, with the disciplinary tone of a mother scorning her child (We're not mad, we're just disappointed.) Google has sent an open letter to a particular Washington Committee responsible for said decision.

One of the most concerning aspects of the proposal, which Google has shifted attention toward, is the FBI's desire to "remotely" access any computer which has concealed it's location (either through IP obscuring programs or anonymity services such as Tor, a privacy-based internet browser.

Google's input on the matter will be considered by the Advisory Committee for Criminal Rules, a program of judges responsible for governing the actions of federal powers, like the FBI.

According to current policy, under a section known as Rule 41, in order for a federal agent to search any property, they must first request a warrant from a judge in the district in question. However, the Federal Government argues that in an age of cyber communications and informational globalization such rules are no longer reasonable.

This raises some obvious questions in the way of privacy-consideration (i.e. "Is there any?"). When the government has unlimited, unrestricted access to citizens' private information paired with the ability of a federal, unlocalized warrant they are prematurely set up for the definition of privacy-invasion.

This could pose a legitimate threat to the Age of Information that the United States has so gratefully flourished in.

That's all I have to say today, but I'll be back tomorrow.

"I no longer love blue skies. In fact, I now prefer gray skies. The drones do not fly when the skies are gray, and for a short period of time, the mental tension and fear eases." -Zubair Rehman