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In this case they're suing google to acquire the users identity, and google has said they're willing to give the user the chance to oppose the order. As far as

In this case they're suing google to acquire the users identity, and google has said they're willing to give the user the chance to oppose the order. As far as I know ownership of email hasn't been contested in court, but the email was addressed to the accidental recipient, which even under mail tampering laws wouldn't mean he had done anything wrong. The laws for mail are to prevent me mail-box diving my neighbour or opening accidentally delivered mail, however if the mail was mis-addressed to me then it's legally mine through and through. This email was mis-addressed, which wasn't the fault of the recipient. I highly doubt the Judge will rule in the companies favour and risk setting a precedent against federal mail laws for email, it would seem kind of absurd.

roc 17y ago
If you're familiar with these laws: if I misaddress something to a PO Box, will the government reveal the identity of the accidental recipient? Will they if I ask nice, or must a court compel them? Is there any sort of requirements that need to be met? I realize that in this case they haven't asked for anything beyond identity yet. But I'm forced to wonder what happens after they've ascertained identity? There's no need to compel Google to reveal that person's identity unless there's a follow-up action that they feel they can't execute unless they know the identity of the unintended recipient. So what is the follow-up action of stripping away this innocent person's privacy? I'm forced to conclude it would be yet-another injustice.
- pyre 17y ago
  I'm assuming that they want to 'have him by the balls' to use as a scapegoat if any of that information is ever used for identity theft. The problem with this is that I feel if they have such a convenient scapegoat, they will probably rush to crucify him before investigating whether or not the information could have been obtained through other avenues.

roc 17y ago

If you're familiar with these laws: if I misaddress something to a PO Box, will the government reveal the identity of the accidental recipient? Will they if I ask nice, or must a court compel them? Is there any sort of requirements that need to be met? I realize that in this case they haven't asked for anything beyond identity yet. But I'm forced to wonder what happens after they've ascertained identity? There's no need to compel Google to reveal that person's identity unless there's a follow-up action that they feel they can't execute unless they know the identity of the unintended recipient. So what is the follow-up action of stripping away this innocent person's privacy? I'm forced to conclude it would be yet-another injustice.

pyre 17y ago
I'm assuming that they want to 'have him by the balls' to use as a scapegoat if any of that information is ever used for identity theft. The problem with this is that I feel if they have such a convenient scapegoat, they will probably rush to crucify him before investigating whether or not the information could have been obtained through other avenues.