Google to keep storing search requests

[NVMojo]

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Although he was alarmed by AOL's haphazard release of its subscribers' online search requests, Google Inc. CEO Eric Schmidt said Wednesday the privacy concerns raised by that breach won't change his company's practice of storing the inquiries made by its users.

"We are reasonably satisfied ... that this sort of thing would not happen at Google, although you can never say never," Schmidt said during an appearance at a major search engine conference in San Jose.

The security breakdown, disclosed earlier this week, publicly exposed about 19 million search requests made by more than 658,000 AOL subscribers during the three months ended in May. Time Warner Inc.'s AOL intended to release the data exclusively to researchers, but the information somehow surfaced on the Internet and was widely copied.

The lapse provided a glaring example of how the information that people enter into search engines can provide a window into their embarrassing — or even potentially incriminating — wishes and desires. The search requests leaked by AOL included inquiries seeking information about murder techniques and nude teenage girls.

AOL's gaffe hits close to home for Google because the two companies have extremely close business ties.

more...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060809/ap_on_hi_te/google_schmidt_2

[RufusEarl]

1. It appears that personal information,

has become a large business. I suppose the only way to keep other people from knowing what you're doing, is to not do anything!

[katinmn]

2. well, I must say that sucks.

I'm sure they make millions off selling the info.

I wonder if there are any search engines that don't store and market our searches.

[journalist3072]

3. Big Brother to the fullest

The only reason these companies would want to maintain that information, is to turn it over to the government upon request.

And why does the government need to know if I google for Rachael Ray's latest recipe?

Why do they even need to know if I google "Tora Bora." Would that somehow indicate I'm a bin Laden sympathizer, if I look for info on Tora Bora?

[sugapablo]

4. Slippery slope

Today, Google caches billions of requests for "MILF" in their image search function...

Tomorrow...the black clothed "police" storm your front door for Googling "freedom".

[yorkiemommie1]

5. Okay ! Let me google this;

Miserable failure


:evilgrin:

[NVMojo]

6. good idea

[Massacure]

7. Aren't these stored search request used somehow to rank results?

[NorthernSun]

8. They can store that without personal info

We need a new search engine as good as google that doesn't snoop. That would cut google's hits (and revenue) in half.

[nedbal]

9. they make millions off selling the info

[Aridane]

10. Try http://www.everyclick.com

I'm not sure if it's anywhere near as good as Google but it does help charity, so why not give it a whirl....

http://www.everyclick.com

[Raine]

12. I'll give it a try

THANKS! :thumbsup:

[Massacure]

13. What makes you think google stores personal info?

With AOL, you sign up for their "service" and provide them with your name and address and billing info and such. Google is free and doesn't collect such data though.

[NorthernSun]

14. Good point, never thought of that

I guess strict privacy laws are the only way.

Google does however collect all American phone numbers and attach them to your name and address. If you enter your number in google, it will spit out your info.

[Massacure]

15. Not much different than a phone book.

Much more environmentally friendly though. ;)

[Raine]

11. That STINKS

guess I won't be using Google anymore. x(