Search giant says changes already made since prosecutors showed up with a warrant years ago
," the DoJ said Google must ensure it responds to subpoenas and warrants in a timely and complete manner, and it must keep a third-party independent compliance professional on retainer to ensure the mega-corp is playing ball as applicable and necessary.
"This agreement demonstrates the department's resolve in ensuring that technology companies, such as Google, provide prompt and complete responses to legal processes to ensure public safety and bring offenders to justice,"Google will also be required to periodically report the status of its legal compliance program and enact other changes, though the DoJ noted the search giant had already spent more than $90 million implementing changes like those requested in the agreement over...
The deal also does nothing to extend the types of data the government is allowed to request, and Google won't be limited in its ability to challenge future subpoenas or warrants. A Google spokesperson toldthe Silicon Valley outfit wasn't ceding ground to the government in terms of what data it would willingly provide.
"Google has a long track record of protecting our users' privacy, including pushing back against over-broad government demands for user data, and this agreement in no way changes our ability or our commitment to continue doing so," the spokesperson said. For those concerned this will open up a flood of data to the US government, the DoJ said not to worry, either:"Google will maintain its lawful protections of user data, and the agreement does not provide the United States access to Google user data." ®