Exclusive: Google expanding its snooping capabilities?

Mike Swenson
truthorlies.org
Tuesday July 17, 2007

According to an article on CNN.com today, search engine giant Google "has agreed to buy Web-based security provider Postini for $625 million.

"Postini provides security and encryption services, protecting instant messaging, e-mail and other communications, to more than 35,000 businesses and 10 million users worldwide.", states the article. In fact, according to Postini's website, their clientele is quite expansive and interesting, to say the least. Clients include Amsouth Bank (now Regions Bank), Circuit City, United Technologies (a company that provides high technology products and services to the building and aerospace industries), Swales Aerospace, Merrill Lynch, and Invesco, just to name a few.

Should this buyout raise privacy concerns?

It is interesting to note that, according to an article in PC World back in June, "Google was rated dead last in privacy among top net companies." It states " the company's privacy practices are the worst among Internet service companies. Not one of the other 22 companies surveyed (including AOL, Microsoft and Yahoo) comes close to achieving status as an endemic threat to privacy" as Google, said Privacy International."

Further, an article on TechShout.com stated back in January of 2006 that "77% of Google users aren’t aware that Google is spying on them".

In the past, Google has had a reputation of shady dealings with the US Government. Back in October 2006, PrisonPlanet.com reported that "Robert David Steele, a former clandestine services officer for the CIA who also maintains close relationships with top Google representatives, claimed Google is in bed with the CIA....Google was a little hypocritical when they were refusing to honor a Department of Justice request for information because they were heavily in bed with the Central Intelligence Agency, the office of research and development," said Steele.

Further, the PrisonPlanet article states that "Steele was the second-ranking civilian (GS-14) in U.S. Marine Corps Intelligence from 1988-1992. Steele is a former clandestine services case officer for the Central Intelligence Agency.

Stelle is the founder and president of Open Source Solutions, Inc., and is an acknowledged expert on computer and information vulnerabilities. Steele holds graduate degrees in International Relations and Public Administration from Leigh University and the University of Oklahoma. He has also earned certificates in Intelligence Policy from Harvard University and in Defense Studies from the Naval War College.

Before the 2004 election Steele advocated the re-election of George W Bush and he has been cited by numerous Republican luminaries as a credible source.

Steele called for more scrutiny to be placed on Google if it continues to engage in nefarious practices, saying, "If Google is indeed starting to do harm then I think it's important that be documented and publicized."

There is no doubt that this recent purchase will again raise privacy concerns, given Google's track record, especially if they continue to buy out more security companies.

We will provide any updates to this story as they become available.