YouTube must turn over information about its users as part of a lawsuit
from Viacom. The move has outraged electronic privacy advocates. Bobbi Rebell
reports. 

The concern follows a court ruling last week that Google-owned
YouTube must turn over its user data to Viacom. Viacom sued YouTube and Google
for a billion dollars last year in New York, alleging copyright infringement
of its entertainment programming. 

Viacom, which owns the Paramount movie studio, MTV Networks, and Comedy
Central,  says it needs YouTube's viewing information to show that piracy
issues are at stake. 

YouTube keeps data on users' unique IP addresses, usernames and videos
watched.  

The decision by the court has provoked outrage from privacy advocates. 


John Verdi of the Electronic Privacy  Information Center:
 John Verdi, Staff Counsel, Electronic Privacy Information
Center, saying
"Its a privacy threat for all users. There are many sensitive videos
that are on YouTube and I would imagine that many YouTube users would not want
their personal information linked to them and provided to a third party like
Viacom"

On the streets of New York City, internet users agreed:
 Herman, Internet user, saying (English)
"Its not ok for Viacom to know what people are watching on YouTube.
Its their personal right to view what they want on YouTube"
SOUNDBITE: David, Internet user, saying 
 "I don't like that idea.. its like turning Viacom into big brother
or whatever, too powerful"

 
In recent years, the music industry has used such information to bring
lawsuits against people it says were illegally sharing copyrighted music.

Viacom says it has no interest in identifying individual users. 

Both companies say they are looking at how to comply with the court order
while ensuring personal information is secure. 
 

Viacom has had only limited success in stopping its videos from
being posted on YouTube.. while some have been taken down, clips from hits
like the Daily Show still find their way onto the site.

Bobbi Rebell, Reuters, New York.