Google Asked to Identify Everyone Who Watches YouTube
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| People who like watching YouTube are identified by Google. PHOTO/ CNET |
CUPERTINO - Google has been ordered by a court to identify people who watch certain YouTube videos. This order was issued in connection with an investigation into alleged Bitcoin money laundering.
As reported by The Verge, Sunday (24/3/2024), the police handling this case want to get information about the viewers of the tutorial video which has been viewed more than 30,000 times.
Forbes reports that Google has been asked to hand over names, addresses, phone numbers and user activity for all Google accounts that accessed the video between January 1 and January 8, 2023.
The government also wants the non-Google IP addresses of account holders who watched the videos. This court order shows that the government is trying to track down individuals who may be involved in Bitcoin money laundering activities.
However, it should be noted that Google will not necessarily be able to comply with all requests for this information. Google may not have all the information the government requests, or may not be able to hand it over for privacy reasons.
The case raises questions about the balance between privacy and law enforcement. On the one hand, the government has a legitimate interest in investigating alleged crimes. On the other hand, individuals have the right to privacy and do not want their online activities to be tracked by the government.
It is important to note that Google is not necessarily guilty of Bitcoin money laundering charges. Google may simply be a victim of circumstances and forced to hand over information about its users.
This case is still in its early stages and it is unclear what will happen next. However, this case will set an important precedent for the balance between privacy and law enforcement in the digital era.