4 ms·

I find it extremely interesting that the fbi buys ads for illegal stuff, rather than Google Just putting up a warning when you search for ddos services

HDThoreaun 3y ago
Why would google do that for free when they can get paid?
spondylosaurus 3y ago
I mean, it's not illegal to search for those keywords, so Google doesn't have much of an incentive to stop running ads on them (at least of their own free will). I'm sure "triple homicide" is a hot keyword for advertising the latest true crime podcast or whatever. Granted, I'm also a little surprised that the FBI didn't just twist Google's arm about it, but who knows. Maybe Google did them a solid and doesn't actually charge for the ad space, or maybe the FBI is just trying to play nice since Google has plenty of federal contracts.
- 2OEH8eoCRo0 3y ago
  > I'm also a little surprised that the FBI didn't just twist Google's arm about it Just twist their arm? What does it mean for the FBI to twist Google's arm?
  - spondylosaurus 3y ago
    ? I'm not entirely sure what you mean. What I was trying to convey was that the FBI could have exerted some kind of pressure to get Google to run the anti-booter ads of their own volition instead of the FBI (presumably) buying the ads like anyone else would buy ads. I have no idea what that kind of pressure would entail cuz I don't work for the feds and couldn't say what their "do this or else" strategies are like, lol.
    - not2b 3y ago
      It doesn't cost that much compared to their budget, so it's easier to pay for ads than get into a fight with Google lawyers.
    - 2OEH8eoCRo0 3y ago
      What do you mean by pressure? I think that you are making an assumption about how the FBI operates.
      - spondylosaurus 3y ago
        Right, I am assuming, because I'm not particularly familiar with the workings of the FBI lol. Surely it's obvious that by "pressure" I'm referring to the threat of some sort of nebulous legal-y action if Google didn't comply with [xyz request]. Is that not how law enforcement functions? (I'd be shocked if they were asking very nicely and offering to take Google out to dinner.)
        acheron 3y ago
        The point is that the real world is not a thriller movie. No, the FBI doesn't do that.
        spondylosaurus 3y ago
        What exactly do they do, then?
        matthewterhune 3y ago
        Of course they do, though not to a big company like Google for something trivial like this when they could pay a bit of money. Threats aren't cost free.
        thatguy0900 3y ago
        Correct, the fbi never breaks the law or does anything not strictly above board.

HDThoreaun 3y ago

Why would google do that for free when they can get paid?

spondylosaurus 3y ago

I mean, it's not illegal to search for those keywords, so Google doesn't have much of an incentive to stop running ads on them (at least of their own free will). I'm sure "triple homicide" is a hot keyword for advertising the latest true crime podcast or whatever. Granted, I'm also a little surprised that the FBI didn't just twist Google's arm about it, but who knows. Maybe Google did them a solid and doesn't actually charge for the ad space, or maybe the FBI is just trying to play nice since Google has plenty of federal contracts.

2OEH8eoCRo0 3y ago
> I'm also a little surprised that the FBI didn't just twist Google's arm about it Just twist their arm? What does it mean for the FBI to twist Google's arm?
- spondylosaurus 3y ago
  ? I'm not entirely sure what you mean. What I was trying to convey was that the FBI could have exerted some kind of pressure to get Google to run the anti-booter ads of their own volition instead of the FBI (presumably) buying the ads like anyone else would buy ads. I have no idea what that kind of pressure would entail cuz I don't work for the feds and couldn't say what their "do this or else" strategies are like, lol.
  - not2b 3y ago
    It doesn't cost that much compared to their budget, so it's easier to pay for ads than get into a fight with Google lawyers.
  - 2OEH8eoCRo0 3y ago
    What do you mean by pressure? I think that you are making an assumption about how the FBI operates.
    - spondylosaurus 3y ago
      Right, I am assuming, because I'm not particularly familiar with the workings of the FBI lol. Surely it's obvious that by "pressure" I'm referring to the threat of some sort of nebulous legal-y action if Google didn't comply with [xyz request]. Is that not how law enforcement functions? (I'd be shocked if they were asking very nicely and offering to take Google out to dinner.)
      - acheron 3y ago
        The point is that the real world is not a thriller movie. No, the FBI doesn't do that.
        spondylosaurus 3y ago
        What exactly do they do, then?
        matthewterhune 3y ago
        Of course they do, though not to a big company like Google for something trivial like this when they could pay a bit of money. Threats aren't cost free.
        thatguy0900 3y ago
        Correct, the fbi never breaks the law or does anything not strictly above board.