Google to assist catch drug smugglers, etc.

[Cerberus]

What's the difference between Google and law enforcement? Not much, apparently.

 

Like an overbearing, clueless cousin, Google is putting itself into the fight to disrupt global drug cartels with a two-day summit in Los Angeles. The summit, "Illicit Networks: Forces In Opposition," is put on by Google Ideas, the company's "think/do tank," and is part of the company's effort to "answer humanity's most intractable problems."

 

Do you see the problem here? Anybody who pisses off government officials can be declared "illicit" and Google's all-too-willing help could turn it into yet another technological tool of the all-seeing Surveillance State.

 

The discussion, which will explore how technology can impact the secretive world of drug smugglers and money launderers, is an unusual topic for the search giant, reports Jessica Guynn at the Los Angeles Times.

 

 

Reality Catcher

Sylvia Longmire, a longtime analyst whose book Cartel examines the War On Drugs at the blood-soaked U.S./Mexican border, said Google asked her to take part in the summit after a company staffer read a piece she wrote on whether lifting gun ownership restrictions on Mexican citizens would make a difference in the Drug War.

 

"To me the idea was totally strange, totally new, and at first I thought it was totally out there," Longmire said of the summit, which is co-sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations (yeah) and the Tribeca Film Festival.

 

Longmire will share the podium with a former arms broker and a former child soldier from Uganda.

 

 

Red Room

Sylvia Longmire: "It's not that far-fetched to think that Google would have an interest in helping technology disrupt these networks"

More than 50,000 lives have been lost in the Mexican Drug War over the past five years. According to Longmire, Google could make a difference in the fight to expose and stop the cartels.

 

Mexican government officials are participating in the summit, and a breakout session will give Longmire a rare opportunity to swap information with others on the hunt for digital tools to take on illicit smuggling networks.

 

"The more I found out about it, I thought, 'You know, this could be pretty special,' " Longmire said. "It's not that far-fetched to think that Google would have an interest in helping technology disrupt these networks."

 

Unfortunately, it's also "not that far-fetched" to imagine repressive governments using Google as a tool of repression in tracking and apprehending, ahem, "smugglers," i.e., anybody whose freedom happens to be inconvenient to the existing power structure.

 

Will Google allow itself to be turned into a law enforcement tool in the name of the War On Drugs?

 

http://www.tokeofthe..._drugs.php#more

[Haratio Hornblower]

Yeah well this site it supposed to be secure so how come some posts end up on google?

[Naycha]

Yeah well this site it supposed to be secure so how come some posts end up on google?

 

Because it's the internet.

 

What do you mean by "this site is supposed to be secure" anyway?

 

Naycha

[The Hash Nibbler]

Well unless they didnt explain it to you in Kindy Haratio.........Google is a mystical creature called a "search engine" and to find anything fast on the net, most people use google. Thats how it works, you type some words in and it gives you links to sites.............

 

If you hid all the info on this site, how would anyone know it existed????....................Security is fine here mate, theres only a limited amount of info you can see as a Non-member..........so its fine. Adjust ya tin foil hat and chillax. Peace. Nibbler

[the.weed.fisherman]

Well, guess wat ?

 

I like to google naughty stuff.....in images...

 

........................... .........................................

 

makes me feel nice ...................if ya know what i mean........

 

 

the.weed.fisherman

[Syb3 rm3nt41_%20]

Google is predominantly funded by the government .... fact. (Funnily enough im sure ive spoken about this atleast a few times over the last few years ....)

 

*******************************************************************************

 

**EDIT**:- I'm not suggesting the discontinuation of google services .....

Edited July 18, 2012 by Frazz
Personal Abuse toward Members will not be tolerated here.

[Mama Cass]

Settle down fellas. It is a question worth getting an answer to. Asked myself the same thing when I saw one of my own posts floating around in cyber space.

 

Besides Indy, if we don't ask HTF are we ever going to understand it? Or do those who know want to keep it to themselves?

 

BTW, which govt. funds Google, why & how much?

 

There is no need to speak to anyone like this, even if you think they're idiots..........others may not but then everyone is entitled to an opinion, eh?

Edited July 18, 2012 by Mama Cass

[Allotropy]

[nitram]

If you break the law and use any transmittable (technological) device to do the act, or you participate in the transmision of this information your ISP is obligated to supply on presentation of a warrant to supply that transmission records - bassically if you think you can be anomous on the net you really don't follow crypto security news & leagal progress that is about if you look.

 

How is this related to this site is that as I am asured that it takes all the precautions (as would your banking site) to minimise any compromise of personal information. As with your bank https is deployed @ os, net/site security is keep up to date. Everyone should note that utimately it's you isp you need to worry about - a short note that may not apply to many who have not purchased new cisco wireless router

 

http://tech.slashdot.org/story/12/06/29/1425210/cisco-pushing-cloud-connect-router-firmware-allows-web-history-tracking?sdsrc=rel

 

cheers Nitty.

[Allotropy]

Yeah

 

Definately not a good idea, lots of trouble there, end as a good raid, a turn over and evidence could spin you out as an espy

 

 

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Edited July 18, 2012 by Anthesis