[LINK] RFI: Google Apps for Government

[Roger Clarke]

I'm concerned that Google's Terms of Service are inappropriate for 
government agencies.  (I feel the concern wearing all of my various 
hats as researcher, consultant, advocate and citizen).

The media reported yesterday that Wyoming has become "the first state 
to begin using a suite of cloud computing tools from Google for its 
entire executive branch of government", e.g. 
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/wyo-turns-to-google-for-govt-computing-services-20110623-1gfui.html

I checked with the Wyoming CIO, Flint Waters.

Flint advised that "We don't have a custom terms of service", and are 
using "the TOS for the Apps for Government product".

I can see the (or maybe a) Google Apps for Government page here:
http://www.google.com/apps/intl/en/government/index.html

But the only link to Terms of Service is in the page-footer, and that 
points to the *standard* ToS:
http://www.google.com/apps/intl/en/terms/standard_terms.html
(If you follow that through, there are something like 100 files 
involved, and it's far from clear which are applicable under what 
circumstances).

The FAQ pointed to from the Apps for Gov page is headed 'Google Apps 
for Business', and doesn't appear to contain anything about 
Government.

There's a page on FISMA certification (which I assume corresponds 
with Aust Fin'l Mngt - FMA requirements), but it doesn't seem to 
offer a link to ToS:
http://www.google.com/apps/intl/en/government/trust.html

I tried Googling on <Google Apps for Government Terms>, but no luck 
that way either.

Can anyone divine where I should look?

Google doesn't offer email-addresses to help people in situations 
like this, so my only other options appear to be to ask Flint, or 
send a request to Google Aust and see if anyone is prepared to assist.


-- 
Roger Clarke                                 http://www.rogerclarke.com/
			            
Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd      78 Sidaway St, Chapman ACT 2611 AUSTRALIA
                    Tel: +61 2 6288 1472, and 6288 6916
mailto:Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au                http://www.xamax.com.au/

Visiting Professor in the Cyberspace Law & Policy Centre      Uni of NSW
Visiting Professor in Computer Science    Australian National University