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Google.govt.nz ??

It seems that NZ's integration into the USA is moving another step closer with the announcement that our government is cosying up to Google with a view to using its services to implement some of its e-government initiative.

It is rumoured that the initiative will see the introduction of increased "new technology" both internally, as a way of reducing staffing levels while hiking productivity -- and as an interface with the public.

While it's hard not to cheer for any move that will help cut the cost of government and improve the levels of service provided -- one can't help but wonder if it make sense to even consider bringing an ad-funded company like Google onboard to guard the secrets of the nation's citizens.

While Google's mantra is "do no evil" -- it also has a strong imperative to "make lots of money" for shareholders and if there's a conflict, we're still not 100% sure which has the higher priority.

Also, given the outrageous actions of the US government of late, I would strongly object to any of *my* personal information or details, other than those I choose to disclose to US-based services, being stored in Google's cloud -- or even passing through their networks.

Unfortunately, I fear that our government will not share my concerns.

They have already shown that they're eager to please and will effectively relinquish sovereignty whenever requested to by the USA.

The big problem facing Kiwis however is: what do we do if the government does hitch its wagon to Google's horse?

With government very much hinting at a future where online access for certain services is no longer optional but mandatory -- those who to use those services may have no option but to disclose their information in a manner that opens it up to prying, poking and prodding by the US administration.

Since their open RFP for software that will trawl the world's social media for anything which might be deemed "of interest" to the US government, it's now hardly a secret that they'll do whatever it takes to get their hands on as much information about as many people as they can. Obviously, having Google offer a range of cloud-based services for the NZ government is a very easy way to allow total surveillance of our citizens.

Now I'm sure there are some who will say that I'm over-reacting and that this latest move is no different to the government striking a deal with Microsoft for site-licensing of its OS and Office applications.

I beg to disagree.

If Google is recruited to provide cloud-based services, our data is no longer totally under our control and while "en-route" between citizen and state, it will have absolutely zero protection from the USA's "Department of Homeland Paranoia" and other security departments.

I'd like to know how Kiwis feel about this prospect.

What happens when armed police raid your house at 5am -- because the US government has decided that you pose a threat to *their* security as a result of ongoing surveillance of your interactions with the NZ government or the justice department?

I know that is drawing a very long bow -- and let's face it, that's just as unlikely as having the FBI direct NZ police to raid your house and confiscate all your assets simply because you set up a website where people could upload and download their own files.

Oh... maybe that was a bad example.

And what about the flow of information going the other way?

I'm sure the NZ government would love to know who's doing what online -- and, as we know, Google keeps a massive wad of information on most Net-user's every move. That kind of data would be a wonderful compensation for the surrendering of our data-sovereignty -- wouldn't it?

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