So, last night I received this email notice from Google concerning my personal Gmail account.
I initially thought it had to be some sort of scam, but checking the headers revealed that it had passed authentication, and was in fact a legitimate email sent from usernotice@google.com. So then I did some searching on the topic and it turns out that a variety of folks have received these notices because of requests from all kinds of agencies, from ICE to the FBI.
At that point I was starting to get a little concerned. I've had this account since Gmail was in beta and they were handing out invites, which was like 15 years ago. I was racking my brain, trying to figure out what the hell I could have done during the last decade and a half that would compel the Story County attorney to request information on my Google account.
Then it hits me. I don't even know where Story County is. Turns out it resides in the oft flooded state of Iowa and houses the capital of mediocrity, Ames. Why would an attorney from Ames want access to my account? I've never set foot in that swampland.
So, this morning I decided to call the Story County attorney's office to get to the bottom of things. I spoke with one of the attorneys and after doing some digging he tells me that the case number is legit, but I don't have anything to worry about because they aren't actively investigating me. He assured me that law enforcement had not been provided with any of my actual emails because the inquiry was only for identification purposes.
Now that I've had more time to think about it, I'm pretty sure that attorney was an ISU grad. The 'Clones have seen my hoops videos and Photoshops, they're feeling insecure, and now they're trying to take me down. If you connect the dots it's the only logical conclusion. If you guys don't hear from me again after tonight you'll know exactly what happened.
Dear Google User,
Google received and responded to legal process issued by Story County Attorney's Office compelling the release of information related to your Google account. A court order previously prohibited Google from notifying you of the legal process. We are now permitted to disclose the receipt of the legal process to you. The agency reference number or case number on the legal process is Case No. IFIF001693.
For more information about how Google handles legal process, view our transparency report at http://www.google.com/transparencyreport/userdatarequests/legalprocess/.
Google is not in a position to provide you with legal advice or discuss the substance of the legal process. If you have other questions regarding this matter, you may wish to contact an attorney.
Please reply to this email and/or include the case identification number located in the subject line in any further communications regarding this matter.
Regards,
Legal Investigations Support
Google LLC
Google received and responded to legal process issued by Story County Attorney's Office compelling the release of information related to your Google account. A court order previously prohibited Google from notifying you of the legal process. We are now permitted to disclose the receipt of the legal process to you. The agency reference number or case number on the legal process is Case No. IFIF001693.
For more information about how Google handles legal process, view our transparency report at http://www.google.com/transparencyreport/userdatarequests/legalprocess/.
Google is not in a position to provide you with legal advice or discuss the substance of the legal process. If you have other questions regarding this matter, you may wish to contact an attorney.
Please reply to this email and/or include the case identification number located in the subject line in any further communications regarding this matter.
Regards,
Legal Investigations Support
Google LLC
I initially thought it had to be some sort of scam, but checking the headers revealed that it had passed authentication, and was in fact a legitimate email sent from usernotice@google.com. So then I did some searching on the topic and it turns out that a variety of folks have received these notices because of requests from all kinds of agencies, from ICE to the FBI.
At that point I was starting to get a little concerned. I've had this account since Gmail was in beta and they were handing out invites, which was like 15 years ago. I was racking my brain, trying to figure out what the hell I could have done during the last decade and a half that would compel the Story County attorney to request information on my Google account.
Then it hits me. I don't even know where Story County is. Turns out it resides in the oft flooded state of Iowa and houses the capital of mediocrity, Ames. Why would an attorney from Ames want access to my account? I've never set foot in that swampland.
So, this morning I decided to call the Story County attorney's office to get to the bottom of things. I spoke with one of the attorneys and after doing some digging he tells me that the case number is legit, but I don't have anything to worry about because they aren't actively investigating me. He assured me that law enforcement had not been provided with any of my actual emails because the inquiry was only for identification purposes.
Now that I've had more time to think about it, I'm pretty sure that attorney was an ISU grad. The 'Clones have seen my hoops videos and Photoshops, they're feeling insecure, and now they're trying to take me down. If you connect the dots it's the only logical conclusion. If you guys don't hear from me again after tonight you'll know exactly what happened.
