FAQ: When Google is not your friend

Advertisement (Why?)

Google's recent legal spat with the U.S. Department of Justice highlights not only what information search engines record about us but also the shortcomings in a federal law that's supposed to protect online privacy.

It's only a matter of time before other attorneys realize that a person's entire search history is available for the asking, and the subpoenas begin to fly. This could happen in civil lawsuits or criminal prosecutions. That type of fishing expedition is not legally permitted for Web mail providers. But because search engines are not fully shielded by the 1986 Electronic Communications Privacy Act--concocted back in the era of CompuServe and bulletin board systems--their users don't enjoy the same level of privacy.

Q: Does Google collect and record people's search terms whether they're logged in or not?
Yes, Google confirmed this week that it keeps and collates these results, which means the company can be forced to divulge them under court order. Whether Google does anything else with them is another issue.

News source: C|Net News.com

#1 xorian on 03 Feb 2006 - 22:48

But atleast Google refuses to give in to the government, while other search engines like Yahoo, MSN, .. easily gave all the requested information. I wonder why they're not getting criticized for giving it out, while Google is, even if it was only for keeping the information..

(1 reply) #2 xmintox on 03 Feb 2006 - 22:49

But which service allows us to search privately?

#2.1 WDGC on 03 Feb 2006 - 23:18

I don't know - I suppose some do - but without this being specifically stated, I think one should assume they all retain search records.

(2 replies) #3 dandin1 on 03 Feb 2006 - 22:54

It's no dirty secret that google keeps log of searches, they even have a monthly zeitgeist with statistics like "most popular queries", and it's normal for any service to log things like that. But why does this article target Google? They are the one that refused to give access to the americain governement to their log, unlike the other major search engines.

And what can they do with them (that affects you) anyways, if they don't know who you are? Unless you use the custom front-page/serach history feature, they can't send you spam or ads relative to your past search queries.

#3.1 Jugalator on 04 Feb 2006 - 13:35

"They are the one that refused to give access to the americain governement to their log, unlike the other major search engines."

Exactly, which also shows that at least Yahoo! Search and MSN Search logs your searches too, because they leaved out the records. IMHO, that would be a bigger story than this one. This is picking on the lesser controversial company of the three, as for search recording and record sharing.

#3.2 axious on 05 Feb 2006 - 11:31

dandin1
They keep a record of each pc that searches - ie i.p addresses/pc.

So if you did a search for "Plastic Explosives" in 2001 there would be some sort of record of that search tied in with your ip addresses at that time.

See the program "the.world.according.to.google". It's pretty frightening how powerful Google actually could be- One of the heads of Google was very very coy about what Google keep a record of.

#4 MasterSpy on 03 Feb 2006 - 23:50

Curious. I didn't realise that Google was my "friend" in any circumstance.

#5 minnow_trap on 04 Feb 2006 - 00:07

Does a bear sh** in the woods too?

(5 replies) #6 g_denne on 04 Feb 2006 - 03:51

I really can't see any huge problems - you've got to assume they've been retaining search terms since the beginning. If you're not doing anything illegal then it's not that much of a biggie.

#6.1 minnow_trap on 04 Feb 2006 - 10:18

That is not the point of the matter. It would be no different then if you or me wanted to collect "Classified Information". What will end up happening anyway, is the government will probably hire some query script geek, and say "HEY GEEK", build us a profiling database. Basically by that, is they will take a string of words like "CHILD PORN" or whatever, (since this seems to be the issue that started alot of it), and build a database, and have the script pull all the info from the google databases, and dump them on a secret government database of their own. (WHO KNOWS) You have now become "Profiled" based of a simple search, because you typed in that particular string of text. I wouldn't have a problem with them targeting sex offenders, etc, but what do they do with all that other information? You think they would simply delete it? I doubt it............ Besides, im still curious about alot of the people that run unecrypted wireless networks, where the average know it all computer joe could log on someone else's IP address, and start googling..... The owner of that IP might possibly be "Profiled" now, without his or her knowledge. The reason I bring that statement up, there was a certain individual in a earlier thread about this, stating how would they know if the IP is a adult or a child? I think alot of people misunderstood him about that, but I knew what he meant by that. Basic but simple point.

#6.2 rubbercake on 04 Feb 2006 - 12:36

wow minnow_trap, paranoid much?

#6.3 john fru on 04 Feb 2006 - 12:42

its better to be sceptical about our level of personal privacy, than to just close your eyes and assume everything will be ok

#6.4 axious on 05 Feb 2006 - 11:26

minnow_trap

The issue is not about CHILD PORN it is about how much porn a child could access using a search engine. (That's the excuse the US Gov are using)

I suspect it is the US Gov trying to fish out terrorists and the like although I doubt it very much wether terrorists use Google to comunicate with this buddies. They're a little bit more savvy than that.

#6.5 minnow_trap on 06 Feb 2006 - 04:43

No rubbercake, not paranoid at all. Just making a assumption. I guess that is about the only freedom or right you or me might have left. One day assumptions will probably cost you tho. :o:

AXIOUS = Yeah, your right on the button. (Excuses, Excuses) This terrorist thing has gone a little far.......

#7 notnoisy on 04 Feb 2006 - 12:25

Google provides ads as well, and what hinders them in synchronizing ads and the users' interests that they have saved over the years? They know what you like/have interest in, so the ads are targeted directly at you. Even the search results can be influenced by what your saved interests are. So you rarely get an untainted result. Is this good?

Google is no better/worse than the other search engines in this case.

#8 Magallanes on 04 Feb 2006 - 23:12

I feel suspicious about the google-bots, the "way" that google track and store the webpages for their search enginer. For example you can find in google some links with info from not-for-free sites (or sites for registered user only)... how the bots can go inside? (and made a backup of it).. it's so inteligent the bots that can create a account and go in? or google spy in the session of the common users?.

(1 reply) #9 aleck79 on 05 Feb 2006 - 20:37

Going to have to make a bot that every 5 seconds searches on Google.com with "HEY YOU, STOP LOOKING AT WHAT I AM TYPING...ITS ILLEGAL!!!!!"

*shruggs*

#9.1 Croquant on 06 Feb 2006 - 11:16

Way to flag yourself with a "I'm a troublemaker" flag there, genius.

Commenting has either been disabled on this article or you are not logged in. Click here to login or register, its free!

Note: Anonymous commenting is disabled in order to keep the quality of responses to a high standard.

Neowin.net