Enso Explains How Google Responds to Search Warrants

By Erik Oster 

Google, which recently published a report on government requests for user information following last year’s FISA lawsuit, wants its users to know that they’re doing everything they can to protect their privacy while still complying with government programs. So they tapped California-based agency Enso to create a stop-motion animation explaining how Google responds to U.S. search warrants.

The 3:24 video explains in detail Google’s standard response to U.S. search warrants for user information; from upholding the fourth amendment upon information requests; to a screener, who sorts and prioritizes search warrants; to the producer, who examines warrants and determines what info to provide; to the custodian of records representing Google in court. Enso depicts the whole process as a game board, with individuals involved as game pieces, as a way to go about simplifying what can seem like a very complex process. They do a good job at showing Google going through great lengths to protect user privacy whenever possible, while still complying with government demands when those demands are reasonable and constitutional, positioning the company on the right side of users’ outrage over the U.S. governments’ invasion of Internet privacy. It’s a bit of tightrope walk, as Google wants to appear to serve its users privacy interests without risking coming across as an impediment to legitimate inquiries, but, luckily for Google, Enso is up to the task.

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