If the linked article has a paywall, you can access this archived version instead: https://archive.ph/zyhax
The court orders show the government telling Google to provide the names, addresses, telephone numbers and user activity for all Google account users who accessed the YouTube videos between January 1 and January 8, 2023. The government also wanted the IP addresses of non-Google account owners who viewed the videos.
“This is the latest chapter in a disturbing trend where we see government agencies increasingly transforming search warrants into digital dragnets. It’s unconstitutional, it’s terrifying and it’s happening every day,” said Albert Fox-Cahn, executive director at the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project. “No one should fear a knock at the door from police simply because of what the YouTube algorithm serves up. I’m horrified that the courts are allowing this.” He said the orders were “just as chilling” as geofence warrants, where Google has been ordered to provide data on all users in the vicinity of a crime.
Being a passerby and actively engaging with the incident is way more than enough cause to identify and talk to them. That warrant should absolutely be granted. It’s very different than geofencing an entire area. It’s specific and directly connected to the crime, whether they committed it or not. It’s entirely reasonable to believe that person has information about the crime.
That said, that person is also absolutely a suspect and should be looked at at minimum at surface level.
Poisoning the well a bit by saying actively engaging. Sounds like they are passively watching.
Thoroughly disagree.
Ok.
Not so much, and they already, presumably have the video.
Other than mere location, what reason do you have to suspect the person? You can look, sure, but I don’t see grounds for a warrant.