What about the possibility that the govt is being assisted by google to track any or all of those that use this site? After all if the site is being accessed by those with an interest in following Bin Laden, the CIA/FBI would be keen to kow who and where they are right?

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Originally posted by skot_e What about the possibility that the govt is being assisted by google to track any or all of those that use this site? After all if the site is being accessed by those with an interest in following Bin Laden, the CIA/FBI would be keen to kow who and where they are right?

Good point.
I find it ironic that Google can't keep track of their own stuff.
To say that they can't is a boatload of poop.
If they can help a communist regime filter out anti-communist searchings they can certainly search their own network for terrorist sympathisers...

___________________
"...End? No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path...one that we all must take.
The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all change to silver glass...and then you see it...
...white shores...and beyond...the far green country under a swift sunrise."

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Originally posted by Fir3start3r Good point. I find it ironic that Google can't keep track of their own stuff. To say that they can't is a boatload of poop. If they can help a communist regime filter out anti-communist searchings they can certainly search their own network for terrorist sympathisers...

The two issues are different. In one Google is given a list of results that should be filtered out before sending search results to a Chinese IP. That's easy to do, and would take any decent programmer about a week to implement. Doing a manual check for pages that glorify terrorism requires hiring loads of staff, and keep them on board forever. Using datamining techniques to do this job automatically would, besides requiring a substantial effort to train the software, inevitably result in Google blocking/closing down pages, which have nothing to do with terrorism. That would mean anger directed at Google, and in the end loss of customers.

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Originally posted by trancaholic The two issues are different. In one Google is given a list of results that should be filtered out before sending search results to a Chinese IP. That's easy to do, and would take any decent programmer about a week to implement. Doing a manual check for pages that glorify terrorism requires hiring loads of staff, and keep them on board forever. Using datamining techniques to do this job automatically would, besides requiring a substantial effort to train the software, inevitably result in Google blocking/closing down pages, which have nothing to do with terrorism. That would mean anger directed at Google, and in the end loss of customers.

Oh I agree there.
Technically they are different, however, they must still be somewhat responsible for themselves.
They don't have a leg to stand on in regards to data filtering with China hanging around their necks.
I'd be curious how much Google was reimbursed for such a colossal undertaking (which evidentally isn't making an impact anyways).

___________________
"...End? No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path...one that we all must take.
The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all change to silver glass...and then you see it...
...white shores...and beyond...the far green country under a swift sunrise."