Google and the Central Gov: Partnering Up for the Police State

From the The Washington Post:

The world's largest Internet search company and the world's most powerful electronic surveillance organization are teaming up in the name of cybersecurity.

Under an agreement that is still being finalized, the National Security Agency would help Google analyze a major corporate espionage attack that the firm said originated in China and targeted its computer networks, according to cybersecurity experts familiar with the matter. The objective is to better defend Google -- and its users -- from future attack.

Google and the NSA declined to comment on the partnership. But sources with knowledge of the arrangement, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the alliance is being designed to allow the two organizations to share critical information without violating Google's policies or laws that protect the privacy of Americans' online communications. The sources said the deal does not mean the NSA will be viewing users' searches or e-mail accounts or that Google will be sharing proprietary data.

The partnership strikes at the core of one of the most sensitive issues for the government and private industry in the evolving world of cybersecurity: how to balance privacy and national security interests. On Tuesday, Director of National Intelligence Dennis C. Blair called the Google attacks, which the company acknowledged in January, a "wake-up call." Cyberspace cannot be protected, he said, without a "collaborative effort that incorporates both the U.S. private sector and our international partners."

But achieving collaboration is not easy, in part because private companies do not trust the government to keep their secrets and in part because of concerns that collaboration can lead to continuous government monitoring of private communications. Privacy advocates, concerned about a repeat of the NSA's warrantless interception of Americans' phone calls and e-mails after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, say information-sharing must be limited and closely overseen.

"The critical question is: At what level will the American public be comfortable with Google sharing information with NSA?" said Ellen McCarthy, president of the Intelligence and National Security Alliance, an organization of current and former intelligence and national security officials that seeks ways to foster greater sharing of information between government and industry. [Continued]

Fascism is in full wondrous flight in the great United State of America, and it is truly fantastical that Google has finally decided to collaborate with the central government in the interest of "cybersecurity." It is about time we all started getting with the program (and that means you too, Sweden!) And just in case you thought that some silly pieces of paper called "search warrants," which laughably imply that you are innocent until proven guilty, can get in our way - think again. You are completely naked to us, and trust me, it's not a pretty sight.

Now, don't forget to get your "portrait" done for the Census Bureau - and if you should forget, see our new ad, which will air during the Super Bowl. It only cost you $2.5 million out of the $340 million dollars we are spending for the compilation of all personal information for the police state census, you might as well see what you paid for.

Ta ta! The Free Speech Czar