Google to Anonymize Search Data

When you search on Google, we collect information about your search, such as the query itself, IP addresses and cookie details. Previously, we kept this data for as long as it was useful. Today we're pleased to report a change in our privacy policy: Unless we're legally required to retain log data for longer, we will anonymize our server logs after a limited period of time. When we implement this policy change in the coming months, we will continue to keep server log data (so that we can improve Google's services and protect them from security and other abuses)-but will make this data much more anonymous, so that it can no longer be identified with individual users, after 18-24 months.

Just as we continuously work to improve our products, we also work toward having the best privacy practices for our users. This includes designing privacy protections into our products (like Google Talk's "off the record" feature or Google Desktop's "pause" and "lock search" controls). This also means providing clear, easy to understand privacy policies that help you make informed decisions about using our services.

After talking with leading privacy stakeholders in Europe and the U.S., we're pleased to be taking this important step toward protecting your privacy. By anonymizing our server logs after 18-24 months, we think we're striking the right balance between two goals: continuing to improve Google's services for you, while providing more transparency and certainty about our retention practices. In the future, it's possible that data retention laws will obligate us to retain logs for longer periods. Of course, you can always choose to have us retain this data for more personalized services like Search History. But that's up to you.

"Google seems to have finally realized that keeping detailed logs of users' online activities threatens their privacy. We are very glad to see Google is taking these first steps to limit their retention of data which can intimately detail users' private online activities .We hope this is only a first step and we hope they will expand this to retain this data for even less time."

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Ixquick Promises to Delete User IP Addresses

Most people are familiar with the recent AOL Data scandal (see also here and here). The release of all this data, some of which was personally identifiable customer data, has concerned web users. The Ixquick metasearch engine was quick to jump with a solution. They have promised to delete unique IP addresses and user-IDs.

As digital technology increasingly pervades our world, more and more personal details are being stored electronically, many of them by search engines. While you are searching the internet, these engines register the time of your searches, the terms you used, the sites you visited and your IP address. In many cases this IP address makes it possible to trace the computer, and in turn the household, that carried out the search.

These personal details are often retained for long periods by search engines and are of interest to commercial parties, governments and even criminals. "Many search engines openly use this data for commercial purposes. It seems only to be a question of time before the data gets misused," alleges Van Eesteren. "Therefore we have decided to permanently delete all personal search records. If the data is not stored, users privacy can't be breached".

Ixquick's Meta Search feature enables the user to simultaneously search 11 of the best search engines. However, Ixquick does not share the user's personal data with these individual search engines in any circumstances. In addition, as of this week, Ixquick will delete the users' IP addresses and 'unique user IDs' from its own 'Log Files'.

"Therefore, any user can use Ixquick.com to search in a combination of the best search engines secure in the knowledge that they can enjoy complete protection of their privacy," continues Mr. van Eesteren.

More search engines should follow Ixquick's lead and quit storing IP addresses.

Posted on August 31, 2006
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Judge: Don't Fire Web Surfing Worker

News.com reports that NYC cannot fire a Department of Education employee for surfing the Internet.

Toquir Choudhri, a Department of Education employee of 14 years, was accused of ignoring supervisors who warned him to stop browsing the Internet while at work. An investigation found evidence that Choudhri had browsed news and travel Web sites from his work computer.

"Look, at 4 in the morning, or because of the nature of the department, some city agencies have downtime. Surfing on the Internet--everybody does it," Martin Druyan, the union attorney representing Choudhri, told CNET News. "Choudhri was singled out in retaliation for discrimination charges that he filed against the Department of Education," he said.

"The judge ruled in our favor because they could not prove that work was backed up, or that phone calls went unanswered," Druyan added. "We don't advocate goofing off. The public should be served. But if there's not work, it's not his fault."

Choudhri was not fired, but Spooner reprimanded him in a letter that will go into Choudhri's employee file.

The judge's decision sounds reasonable. He said, "agencies should apply the same standard to personal Internet use as they do to other personal activities. He noted that many agencies allow employees to take personal calls, or even read the newspaper, as long as those activities do not interfere with a worker's overall performance."

Update: The employee was fired anyway.

Posted on May 2, 2006
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Patriot Search Helps Government Collect Search Data

A spoof search engine called Patriot Search (thx Napsterization) has been set up to help the government collect data while people surf.

Our mission is to provide the best possible search engine to you while at the same time, making sure the government is informed should you search for something obscure, illegal, or unpatriotic.

Instead of letting the government waste tax money by going through complicated procedures to get user and search data from Yahoo, MSN, Ask Jeeves or Google, users of Patriot Search make sure their queries end up right where they belong – in the databases of the government and its various agencies.

People's keyword search privacy has come into question as the Federal government has been sending subpoenas to the major search engines including Google. So far Google has refused to comply with the requests. More Google subpoena humor can be found here.

Posted on January 26, 2006
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Security Fears Stop Some From Surfing Web

Wired reports that security fears, like identity theft, have caused some people to cut back on their web surfing and shopping. Shopping appears to be taking a bigger hit than web surfing.

As identity theft has grown, so has fear of being victimized through high-tech means. A new study finds some computer users are cutting back on time spent surfing the internet. Some have also stopped buying altogether on the web.

The report from Consumer Reports WebWatch finds nearly a third of those surveyed say they've reduced their overall website use.

Some 80 percent of internet users say they're at least somewhat concerned someone could steal their identity from personal information on the internet. A majority of users asked say they've stopped giving out personal information on the web and a quarter say they've stopped buying online.

There are tons of software companies that offer products like spyware removal and anonymous surfing. Interest in these types of services may continue to increase if Microsoft and other browser software providers cannot prevent threats more easily.

Posted on November 3, 2005
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How to Become UnGoogleable

Wired has an article about people who are UnGoogleable and it isn't an easy status to attain. If you blog, email, chat, IM or are listed in the phonebook the chances are that you are probably already googleable meaning that a quick search on Google will turn up information about you.

These unGoogleables don't post online, blog, publish or build web pages using their own names. They're careful about revealing information to businesses, belong to few organizations that can leak personal data, and never submit online resumes -- all common ways that Google captures your data. They spoke to Wired News only on condition that their names be changed for this story.

Agalia says she visits online poker sites, but always enters false data not tied to her true identity. She limits online purchases and favors websites vetted by Truste and other privacy-monitoring groups. Presented with a sweepstakes offer at Legoland, Agalia said she backed out when she was required to submit personal information.

"I try to protect myself from identity theft," says Agalia, who says a would-be thief tried to use her credit card number a few months ago but got the expiration date wrong. "I shred bills, I don't give out information and I don't talk to telemarketers."

Privacy Rights Clearinghouse director Beth Givens offered some more advice:

"If you don't want to be found on Google, don't use your given name if you participate in chat or newsgroups, and for all of your e-mail addresses, don't use any part of your true name," advises Givens. "And for heaven sakes, have an unlisted phone number. Basic tip No. 1 to keep off Google is don't be listed in the White Pages."

One other trick is to have a very common name. For example, it would be difficult to narrow down information about a John Smith or a Jennifer Wilson.

Posted on October 24, 2005
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