I just noticed an article over on Slashdot about Google’s stock taking a hit because of their resistance to the government’s attempt to pry into their data.
Despite my earlier bash on Google I obviously think that they’re doing the right thing in resisting the government’s demands. This government and their laws are becoming far too over reaching and they have the attitude that they can get away with literally anything. Perhaps they can, and that’s sad in so many different ways.
Google has a point here. They’re not a part of this legal case. This government is wanting information to push their already defeated law and they’re trying to force others to give them information to support their cause. As I understand it, Google is not even named in the original lawsuit, they just have information that may be convenient for the government’s legal arguments.
Let’s look at this from another perspective. Say that there’s a lawsuit on the opposite end of the country from where you live. You don’t know that it’s going on and you’re not even named in that lawsuit. It’s just two groups, each trying to get their way. It’s not a murder case or anything so serious.
Then the cops come knocking on YOUR door to get information from YOUR computer because it may help the arguments of one side in this court case. You have nothing to do with this court case, remember, it’s just that one side decided that your computer may hold information that could help them get their way.
Yes, you would obviously have a right to say “No”. That’s what Google is doing, but the government is now trying to force Google into giving up that information. Despite whatever intentions may exist, despite whatever the argument may be, what the government is doing is wrong.
Google SHOULD win this, but I have such dwindling faith in this country and its legal system that I doubt that will be the case. I suppose that’s another matter entirely though.
Why is this hurting Google’s stock? Well, the Slashdot article explains why, but I think that it’s crazy. In my opinion this should help Google’s stock, not hurt it, and I would be buying their stock right now if I had the money to dabble in such things to begin with.
We’ll see what Google does now. Will they stick to their guns, or will this cause them to make an about face? We shall see.
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~Mysk