If you've ever jokingly wondered if your search or viewing history is going to "put you on some kind of list," your concern may be more than warranted.

In now unsealed court documents reviewed by Forbes, Google was ordered to hand over the names, addresses, telephone numbers, and user activity of Youtube accounts and IP addresses that watched select YouTube videos, part of a larger criminal investigation by federal investigators.

The videos were sent by undercover police to a suspected cryptocurrency launderer under the username "elonmuskwhm." In conversations with the bitcoin trader, investigators sent links to public YouTube tutorials on mapping via drones and augmented reality software, Forbes details. The videos were watched more than 30,000 times, presumably by thousands of users unrelated to the case.

YouTube's parent company Google was ordered by federal investigators to quietly hand over all such viewer data for the period of Jan. 1 to Jan. 8, 2023, but Forbes couldn't confirm if Google had complied.

If you watched certain YouTube videos, investigators demanded your data from Google | Mashable

Sorry officer. My cat likes to walk on my keyboard.

Sorry officer, but what makes you think I have any clue what my teenagers watch on Youtube?

Given that many videos do not require a login to view them, I cannot see that the feds are going to net too many high end offenders.

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Release the Kraken

Another reason to NEVER “Hit that subscribe” button. Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

No, officer, not me. I spend way too much time on gu… cat forums! Yeah, cat forums to have watched YT videos. Now, iffn the cat did that, I’m pawsitively sure it was an innocent error. Cats don’t need no bitcoin.

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50 Years of DSOTM

That should get the conspiracy kooks going!

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I have never seen a reason to log in on Youtube.

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Front sight and squeeze

You Tube is good for me for history 1912 to 2000, big trucks, big fails, large engine rebuilds, home remodeling tips. Have a wife, hammer, circular saw, square, and drill --- I am Builder Bob -- just ask her.

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S&WHF 366

The amazing thing about conspiracy theories is how many are later proven factual. Hmmm

Three conspiracy theorists walk into a bar...

You think that's a COINCIDENCE???

In the mid-1980s, I was stationed at Allied Checkpoint Alpha at the Iron Curtain. The East Germans in the gun tower just across the border behind our building had cameras with telephoto lenses, and took my picture hundreds, if not thousands of times. Still waiting for a visit from the Stasi.

I have no Youtube account. I have no X account. Come to think of it I don't have any accounts for any of that garbage. I go to Youtube's site and watch videos without an account so they may have my IP address but, that is about it. If all of it goes away I will not miss any of it.

My wife uses the same system. She watches those gross videos of people popping zits and bad toenails. Drives me crazy because when I start watching, I get all of these recommendations for these videos

They steal your information, then they call You crazy for thinking that your information has been stolen.

Very clever.

Just another form of the age old practice of Gaslighting.

So....if a YouTuber put up a video glorifying and recruiting for ISIS, would you want LE to be able to find out who keeps or kept going back to it after a domestic terror incident? How about a YouTube video on making ricin (a poison for which there is no antidote) from common materials after two or three folks die from ricin poisoning?

You do understand that NO investigative agency can or will do this without assistance from prosecutors?

SHHHHH...I own shares in Reynolds, every time a story like this comes out, I buy a new vacation home.

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SWCA #3356, SWHF#611

I used to keep up with current events by clicking on the Drift.

Since the Drift was closed my browsing history is much less interesting to the Authorities.

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Buy American
Vote Responsibly

Now the Govt whats to save more children and ban them from certain online forums and sex channels. Most be 18 and provide ID. They of course have not figured out what kind of ID verification without invasive of peoples rights.
Sometime you are an adult at 18 but then others you need to be 21.
Meanwhile as with all the video "games" they can watch death destruction, blow up stuff, kill people but not watch any sex stuff. Amazing!

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Still Running Against the Wind

Seems Big Brother lives in Florida.

The Florida Governor on Monday signed a bill that bans children aged under 14 from social media platforms and requires 14- and 15-year-olds to get parental consent, a measure supporters say will protect them from online risks to their mental health.

The measure requires social media platforms to terminate the accounts of people under 14 and those of people under 16 who do not have parental consent. It requires them to use a third-party verification system to screen out those who are underage.

The state's legislature passed a bill in February that would have banned children under 16 from social media entirely. The governor vetoed that bill earlier this month, saying it limited parents' rights.

The amended version allows for parents to provide consent for older children to engage on social media platforms. It will become law on Jan. 1, 2025.

reuters.com

It would seem that the FlaGov is trying to protect our kids from the DEI (Didn't Earn It) and other leftist ChiCom (TikTok) rot polluting the USA. As clumsy as we can be Florida is the place to be. Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

Well, we certainly can't rely on parents, can we.

"As clumsy as we can be Southern New York is the place to be"

I fixed it fer ya.

With our budget surplus we could probably buy most of that broke*** state. Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

Everything you do on phones, computers, GPS and such is apt to keep records.

Uhhh, I thought my 6 yr old was watching a "Wiggles" video.

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Why duck?? It's a 9mm!

From what I have seen these days the parents are often WORSE than the kids.

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The Last Standing Knight

You nailed that one!, They can't be bothered, let the Govt and Schools handle it.

"It's 10 PM do you know what your child is viewing on their phone"

Now the VP visited Parkland School to announce that we need more Red Flag laws,

So they have all these proposed legislation/laws but have yet indicated how they are to be applied or enacted

So say they ban TikTok for young kids, how are they to verify the age?

It's like the stupid warnings on gun websites, "Are you over 18" yes or no?, Gee that sure works.

CDNN Sports - Huge Savings on Guns and Magazines

How about Alcohol, What is your date of birth?

Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey | Jack Daniel's

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Still Running Against the Wind

If something is 'bad,' nothing stops it like an unenforceable law.

Now, let's get that dangerously high speed limit down to 55.

How about voting? What's your date of birth? And do you get to vote twice if you change your sex?

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"Don't Give Up the Ship"

If “Idiots With Chainsaws” is ever deemed a problem, I am in real trouble.

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Possum—The other white meat!

Dating yourself with that one , down this way even North Havana is 30 years behind.

I remember 50 years ago 'ol Jim Dooley: "Come on down, on Northeast Airlines!" Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster