I've been watching and reading with interest, the news about the US Government's Justice Department's request for Google to hand over information on it's users search requests.
The latest has Google resisting efforts by the US Department of Justice to force it to hand over data about what people are looking for. More interestingly, and perhaps not as well publicised, is the fact that competitors, notably Yahoo and Microsoft, have complied and handed over the requested information.
So, the US government can see what you're looking at? Fine, if you're a madman, bent on blowing the world up, or a pervert, intent on looking at child porn. That sort of thing needs attention, in my opinion. But what about industry, say a non-US business, searching for clues on what's the next big thing. Competitive advantage? And where does it stop? When will it become a clampdown on free speech and the beauty of the 'net being a society which has more freedom than can be measured?
