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Watch a Youtube Video and Get on a Fed List

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Ben:
This is disconcerting. They don't mention which fed agency did this, but from what I gathered in the limited story: Feds were going after a crypto trader. For some reason, in order to track people dealing with him, the feds (for some reason not made clear in the article) sent youtube links to videos on drone mapping tutorials. Anyone who watched the tutorials had all their personal data handed over to the feds. Or at least the request was made. The article didn't have info on if Google complied.

The lack of an obvious connection between the crypto money laundering and tutorial videos on drone mapping is what set my alarms off. Especially this example for me. Given that I worked with UAVs in the old job, I watch videos like the ones in the article all the time. The fact that I could get swept up in some fed investigation for innocently watching a video on something that's not a crime is frightening. It makes me wonder if the next time I watch a video on how to change the hydro oil in my tractor that I end up as part of a domestic terrorist investigation.

This happened a year ago, BTW.

https://mashable.com/article/google-ordered-to-hand-over-viewer-data-privacy-concerns
https://www.engadget.com/authorities-reportedly-ordered-google-to-reveal-the-identities-of-some-youtube-videos-viewers-140018019.html

The original Forbes article is behind a paywall.

Ben:
Steve Lehto comments:

https://youtu.be/i8jMSs8du-o

gunsmith:
 everyone who comments on this thread will be .... uh oh.

cordex:
I wonder how long until being on a government list for a special investigation is so common that they start looking into the few people not on government lists as potential “gray man” threats.

Ben:
On a related note:

https://www.foxnews.com/us/fbi-interrogates-americans-over-social-media-posts-every-day-all-day-long-agent-says

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