[antimagic]

Are you suggesting that Google doesn't hand over data? Google has decided to do that because it's good for business (in the sense that going up against the US government is bad for business, and realistically would require Google to move overseas). That's fine, but it changes nothing of the fact that they will hand over data requested by the US government, which means that my comment was perfectly valid.

You seem uncomfortable with the consequences of that. Maybe you should re-evaluate your own relationship with Google - do you really want to be party to these shenanigans?

[packetslave]

Did you even read what I wrote? Yes, Google will hand over user data in response to a legal demand from the U.S. government (warrant, court order, NSL, etc.). So will every other company in the US, whether it's Yahoo, Rackspace, Amazon, or Joe's Linux Servers, Inc. It's called "obeying the law". Characterizing this as "Google's demonstrated willingness to hand user data over to the US government" is dishonest.

Google is one of the industry leaders in being transparent and open about government requests for data (http://www.google.com/transparencyreport/) and in fighting the government on improper or overly-broad data requests, or those that don't exactly follow the legal procedures. I'm perfectly happy with my relationship with them. I'm quite unhappy with the U.S. legal environment that allows things like secret FISA orders, but that's hardly Google's fault.

[antimagic]

Here's the thing - I don't give a rat's arse why Google hands over my data to the US government. All I care about is that they do. They apparently find it easier to hand over my data than to shut down operations or move overseas so that they don't have to. OK, they are free to make that decision (as I have already stated), but they are still bloody well handing over my data! And you, as a googler, are party to that. You really should have a long think about that.