11:18 AM

Was China An Excuse For GOOG + NSA Collaboration?

Take a look at this:

- Google has too much information on US citizens.

- The National Security Agency (NSA) has a history of illegally spying on US citizens.

Yet Google is negotiating with the NSA to help it repel attacks by spies allegedly representing the Chinese government. [Google to enlist NSA to help it ward off cyberattacks - washingtonpost.com]

Yesterday the ACLU launched a campaign encouraging people to protest the alliance.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), which today celebrates its 20th Anniversary, has also been a critic of the NSA and has filed a suit to stop NSA surveillance of US citizens. This surveillance has taken place in San Francisco, very close to Google headquarters in Mountain View.

Jewel v. NSA | Electronic Frontier Foundation


It's strange that Google would make a principled stand and pull out of China because of human rights, yet then turn around and talk to the NSA about helping it beef up its security. Whose bright idea was that? Google has loads of really smart engineers, why does it need the NSA?

Also, since the negotiations are still taking place, Google must have some problems with the NSA terms of cooperation.

Is China just an excuse to justify NSA involvement with Google?

It would have been easy for the NSA to make it look like Chinese agents of the government had breached Google's security. The Chinese government denies that it was responsible.

The ACLU puts it well:

If companies like Google think they need the government's help to secure their networks, then a civilian agency needs to step up to the task. Cybersecurity for the American people should not be handed over to a military spy agency, one that is insulated from public oversight and has a history of secretly exploiting vulnerabilities, rather than fixing them.

Send a message to Google.

Donate to EFF to end warrantless wiretapping.

- - -

EPIC files FOIA request over reported Google, NSA partnership


UPDATE: The EFF is appealing its case against the NSA. News release January 21, 2010:



Please see:

  • FAQ on the case against NSA
  • Main EFF page on NSA Spying
  • Key news articles related to illegal spying
  • More on EFF's Case Against AT&T
  • Mark Klein's evidence and testimony
  • EFF's 20th Birthday with Adam Savage and Friends | Electronic Frontier Foundation