Google has been selling search servers to America’s Intelligence Agencies to assist them in defending America.
According to the SF Chronicle, the Google powered search appliances are used for storing and searching internal documents, with Agencies able to use the devices “to create their own mini-Googles on intranets made up entirely of government data.”
The Google servers are being used to power Intellipedia, a Wikipedia like service for spooks that offers a cross departmental database of national intelligence.
There was no mention of Google powering A-Space, the MySpace network for spooks we wrote about in August. They might also want to do work on some of their search results: according to Google Osama’s Cave is at 1133 21st St NW, Washington, DC
Google Power Again
hey, i see more political news on techcrunch every new day.
they are great but regular techcrunch are not used to that.
you have mobilecrunch for mobile, etc. why not one for topics where politics meet technology?
A Google ploy to get its hands into governmental data..Why would they allow this to happen? Its just Google with another of its “brilliant” ideas
Noble, that Google is still selling search enabling/enhancement devices.
LOL:
Where on earth did that desirable PageRank 8 come from?
That is the dream come true of every SEO.
Are you trying to imply that Osama has a PR 8
The government is probably collecting so much data on all citizens (travel details, reading lists, illegal wiretaps, etc.) that it probably only a “shadow” Google would be able to parse it all.
I wonder if they’re wrong about osama’s cave…
interest
Suraj, Google Search Appliance is an effective search tool for intranet within the company. The intelligence agency must have thousands and thousands of reports online, Google will help to search key terms effectively, without it they will have a tough time finding the relevant documents. http://www.goog.../gsa/index.html
Another brilliant Duncan Riley article. I’ll sum it up in 6 words:
“Google sells search appliance to customer.”
Duncan,
Thanks for the laugh. Maybe it’s me, but I clicked on Osama’s address and didn’t find him.
Andrew , Osama wasn’t home when you tried his address. Did you not get the memo ?
On Thursday of this week I will be attending an event delivered by Robert Fisk one of the world’s most experienced foreign correspondents.
Mr. Fisk interviewed Osama Bin Laden on three separate occasions. I am very tempted to ask him if Osama indicated during any of the interviews his fear (or otherwise) of Google Corps. Perhaps propaganda material ending up in the supplemental index or Google Maps API giving away vital locations would top the ‘fear list’.
An odd story in an odder world!
I guess I have been so caught up in the everyday workings of the Internet that I have not thought about the intelligence aspect of it all. We all know that shady groups from all over the world do a wonderful job of using the net to further their ideology. It does not surprise me that Google has a hand in assisting the U.S. goverment…let’s not forget what happened to Microsoft when they didn’t want to play the GAME…(anti-trust )
The intelligence community shows some intelligence, for once!
The Team
http://iservice...op.blogspot.com
Most likely it’s just a Google Mini, which they sell to all kinds of companies for intranet search, including the one I used to work at. Very good little box. I’m glad our gov’t is finally getting their indexing together.
Cool. I fantasize Google maps showing live data someday. At least then will they be able to catch top notch terrorists.
Regards,
Sudheer
Binary Vibes
“Google has been selling search servers to America’s Intelligence Agencies to assist them in defending America.”
Was that line copied and pasted from some administration press release, or is it a joke?
I am sure Osama’s group also has the resources and intelligence to buy one.
On a different note I heard Orkut is widely misused by criminal elements in non-US countries.
Look at Google, providing value to the globe
Geocaching With Team Hick@Heart
Hey, does not Osama has a cave on Crawford ranch?
Built in human RFID and GPS technology is around the corner. Digital Angel – ADSX owned by IBM already has the technology
Soon all American citizens will have to have the chips under their skin or they will go to jail. Congress is ready to pass human surveillance law and Bush wants to sign it before he leaves office.
It is for the safety of the American public. We need to stop terrorism in its tracks!
GOOGLE IS DOING EVERYTHING.
Sweet
Result “F” – Senator Hillary R Clinton
Woohoo….big brother Google….when they admit their collusion with intelligence agencies on this level, one has to wonder what happens to all the other data they so eagerly gobble up…now about intellipedia…
is it actually hosted on google’s servers? That is quite scary, the government allowing a third party access to this very sensitive data!
Was it Osama’s cave or Obama’s?
What’s scary is that when you do perform the search for Osama’s cave, the 4th result in the page turns out to be 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Conspiracy theorists, I leave the conclusion up to you.
Cool Post.
Buen articulo tio.
I’d just like to point out for the record that Intellipedia’s Google search is utterly horrible, at least last I tried it. I couldn’t figure it out, but results were almost always useless.