If all of our search queries were put on public display, chances are some would be downright embarassing. Whether it’s obsessively Googling an ex or researching that mysterious fungus on your foot, we rely on search engines to provide fast, anonymous information on the day-to-day problems that plague us. WIRED reporter Joanna Glasner takes a [...]
If all of our search queries were put on public display, chances are some would be downright embarassing. Whether it’s obsessively Googling an ex or researching that mysterious fungus on your foot, we rely on search engines to provide fast, anonymous information on the day-to-day problems that plague us.
WIRED reporter Joanna Glasner takes a look at the privacy issues inherent in this medium in an article called What Search Sites Know About You.
A few quick highlights:
- More Services=Less Privacy: Even though search engines can’t distinguish from user to user on simple searches, you lose that privacy once you register for any of the services they offer, such as free e-mail accounts, news alerts or personalized homepages. The increasing trend toward integration and the number of search engines morphing into portals or quasi-portals make this a genuine cause for concern.
- Your History Could Make You History: Search data is becoming just as (if not more) valuable than any other information about you. Daniel Brandt of GoogleWatch says, “It tells what someone is thinking at a particular moment in time. That’s very valuable information.” Scott Peterson’s online activity was recently used to help send him to Death Row after his browser history revealed searches for maps of the San Francisco Bay, tidal charts and fishing guides.
- Don’t Say We Didn’t Warn You: Surprisingly, the privacy policies of most of the major engines contain a clear disclosure of what the hell they’re doing, including this statement pulled from the Yahoo! privacy page: “Once you register with Yahoo and sign in to our services, you are not anonymous to us.” Enough said.
Feeling paranoid yet? If so, check out the tribute page to the 80′s privacy anthem, Rockwell’s (I Always Feel Like) Somebody’s Watching Me. There’s some great video stills, lyrics, and more.
