Google was recently ordered to disclose the names, addresses, phone numbers, and user activity of YouTube accounts and IP addresses that viewed certain videos. These videos were part of a larger federal investigation into a suspected cryptocurrency launderer. The videos, sent by undercover police to the suspect, were public YouTube tutorials on mapping via drones and augmented reality software. They were viewed over 30,000 times, likely by thousands of unrelated users. Google was ordered to hand over all viewer data for the period of Jan. 1 to Jan. 8, 2023. It’s unclear if Google complied. This move has raised concerns among privacy experts about the growing use of digital dragnets and the potential infringement on first and fourth amendment rights.
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