“When you delete something from a server, it doesn’t get overwritten immediately”

Investigators pulled video from ‘residual data’ in Google’s systems — here’s how that was possible and what it means for your privacy.

  • CmdrShepard49@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    97·
    5 hours ago

    While this case shows recovery is technically possible, it also shows it’s rare, resource-intensive, and reserved for extraordinary circumstances.

    How does this show “it’s rare, resource-intensive, and reserved for extraordinary circumstances” when that’s entirely based upon the word of the people doing it in secret?

    “Google is notoriously uncooperative with law enforcement; they will comply with search warrants, but in the least helpful way possible and they will fight it,” he says.

    Google sent personal and financial information of student journalist to ICE

    The Department of Homeland Security Is Demanding That Google Turn Over Information About Random Critics

    “Google has received legal process from a Law Enforcement authority compelling the release of information related to your Google Account,” it read. The email advised Jon that the “legal process” was an administrative subpoena, issued by DHS. Soon, government agents would arrive at his home.

    The subpoena wasn’t approved by any judge, and it didn’t require probable cause. Google gave Jon just seven days to challenge it in federal court — not nearly enough time for someone without a crack team of lawyers on retainer. Even more maddeningly, neither Google nor DHS had sent him a copy of the subpoena itself, leaving Jon and his attorney in the dark.

    This article reeks of whitewashing for the government and tech industry.

    • UnspecificGravity@piefed.socialEnglish
      6·
      3 hours ago

      They are desperate to make it look like the google cameras aren’t recording and saving data 24/7 regardless of whether you have an account or not.

    • stressballs@lemmy.zipEnglish
      16·
      4 hours ago

      It sure does. It’s an article about your deleted data being accessible by Google engineers then spends the rest of the article backtracking.

      • FauxLiving@lemmy.worldEnglish
        9·
        3 hours ago

        The fact that giant companies keep your data and don’t delete it when you tell them to has been true since the beginning of social media. Your things are not deleted, they’re simply marked as deleted so you don’t see them. The actual binary data never goes anywhere.

        The rule of thumb is that if the data leaves your possession then assume someone has a copy of it. If it is encrypted and you don’t control your keys then it isn’t encrypted. (See: Bitlocker keys and Microsoft)