I Think Someone Has Modified The History Books
Here's a
newsbit on CNet dated April 29:
Google denies FBI link to Gmail
Google on Thursday denied that it has had any contact with the FBI regarding the design of its Gmail Web e-mail service.
The search firm's denial came after the Electronic Privacy Information
Center (EPIC) submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to the FBI
seeking information about whether the bureau was considering the
"possible use of Google's Gmail service for law enforcement and
intelligence investigations." EPIC, which gave an award last week to a
California state senator who is trying to ban Gmail, announced the
request immediately after Google said it was filing for an initial public offering.
Critics immediately criticized EPIC's request as a publicity stunt and
because the nonprofit likened Google's Web-based e-mail service to the
FBI's controversial Carnivore wiretapping utility and the Pentagon's
discontinued "Orwellian Total Information Awareness program."
EPIC's request also asked whether Google had discussed licensing its
search technology, in use by customers in the private sector, to the
FBI "to further law enforcement investigations or intelligence
gathering activities." Google spokesman Nathan Tyler replied: "I cannot
confirm whether they're using our technology."
April 29, 2004
Funny, I don't remember the program having
Orwellian right in the title.
But I'd better not draw attention to it, or it's off to Room 101 for me for questioning CNet.