US in panic over Russia's ICQ purchase

Status
Not open for further replies.

Strikr

Baseband Member
Messages
86
Location
c:\
The imminent sale of instant messaging service ICQ to a Russian company has set alarm bells ringing in the US. Senior officials are worried they will lose one of their main ways of keeping an eye on the underworld.
Yahoo StumbleUpon Google Live Technorati
del.icio.us Digg Reddit Mixx Propeller

One of the largest instant messaging services in the world, ICQ, is among the most popular Internet applications of its kind in Russia and Eastern Europe.

Read more

In spring 2010, Russia's largest Internet investment company, Digital Sky Technologies, made a deal with AOL, current owner of ICQ, concerning the purchase of the service for $187 million.

It all went smoothly – until the recent announcement by US law enforcement bodies who claimed that homeland security could be jeopardized if the service is located in Russia. The US said it is sure that most criminals use ICQ and, therefore, constant access to the ICQ servers is needed to track them down. Currently, the system is based in Israel, US's historic ally, which has been very convenient for the American security service.

In response, Russian specialists argued that there is no difference where the server is located as long as the world does its best to fight cyber crime together.

“The problem is that not only criminals are using ICQ. Most users are innocent. Nevertheless, there is no guarantee that your mail is not read,” Boris Kagarlitsky from the Institute of Globalization and Social Movements told RT. “This is a traditional human rights concern which has to be taken very seriously.

awyers say that to block the deal the US Committee on Foreign Investment needed to cancel it no later than within 30 days after the deal has been announced – so unless the rules are broken, nothing can be changed.
 
US is just butthurt cause they cant be big brother over one service. Russia sees this and wants to stop it.

Russia +1
US 0

Besides, i know of maybe ONE person out of everyone i know that actually uses ICQ besides to troll.
 
I know only a small hand full of people that use ICQ, as long as the service is public, there is nothing to really worry about -.-

And PP is right, the American gov needs to stop being big brother, it's really starting to put a strain on EVERYTHING....
 
Actually, he's right. I read about that, forget who's pushing for it but basically it'd give the president power to kill le interwebs should he feel like it. Don't know about 4 months minimum, but the big red button is definitely on the table.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom