US investigators have reportedly demanded that Google provide users’ data that watched a certain video on YouTube, according to a report by Forbes which cited judicial orders.
Human rights organizations have criticized these orders, stating that they violate the Constitution by potentially turning ordinary YouTube viewers into suspects of criminal activities.
In a specific case heard by a court in Kentucky, law enforcement officials tried to determine the identity of a user known as Elonmuskwhm, who was suspected of selling bitcoins for cash in a manner that could violate money laundering laws and illicit money transfer regulations. Agents reportedly sent links to instructional videos on drones and augmented reality software on YouTube in early January, before requesting data from Google about users who viewed these specific videos.