U.S. Obtains Internet Users' Search Records - Maybe We Should Use Google

[Jon8503]

at least they are fighting this. Yahoo and others reveal queries from millions of people; GOOGLE REFUSES. Identities aren't included, but the data trove stirs privacy fears.
By Joseph Menn and Chris Gaither, Times Staff Writers


SAN FRANCISCO — Federal investigators have obtained potentially billions of Internet search requests made by users of major websites run by Yahoo Inc., Microsoft Corp. and America Online Inc., raising concerns about how the massive data trove will be used. The information turned over to Justice Department lawyers reveals a week's worth of online queries from millions of Americans — the Internet Age equivalent of eavesdropping on their inner monologues. The subpoenaed data could, for example, include how many times people searched online for "apple pie recipes," "movie tickets 90012" or even "bomb instructions."

The Internet companies said Thursday that the information did not violate their users' privacy because the data did not include names or computer addresses. The disclosure nonetheless alarmed civil liberties advocates, who fear that the government could seek more detailed information later.

A Justice Department spokesman said the government was not interested in ferreting out names — only in search trends as part of its efforts to regulate online pornography. But the search-engine subpoenas come amid broader concerns over how much information the government collects and how the data are used.

Congress is debating an extension of the Patriot Act, which dramatically expanded the government's ability to obtain private data. And congressional hearings are expected soon on the legality of a National Security Agency program to track communications by U.S. citizens without prior court approval.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-google20jan20,0,6995079.story?coll=la-home-business

[Triana]

1. They're not interested in ferreting out names....

...THEY WANT THE TECHNOLOGY SO THAT THEY CAN CONTROL IT and control what search results you get when you search for "George Bush is an idiot", and so they can track you down if they'd like for doing so.

Can you say: China?

[C_U_L8R]

2. I think I have a new daily routine

to go with my morning gallon of coffee,,,
go type "George Bush is an idiot" into google.

I wonder if enough of us did it what notice it would get...
sort of an alternate media culture jamming graffiti protest kind of thang.

What the hell .. I'm doing it.

[Triana]

4. an alternate media culture jamming graffiti protest kind of thang

Great idea. If they want to SNOOP, let's give them a REASON - specifically, the very ones they're looking for. Let's give them so many REASONS to snoop, that they're swamped in them. Let's BURY THEM ALIVE in REASONS to snoop. Personally and seriously though, I'm not changing a damn thing that I do because some fascists don't like it. They can kiss my Google.

[C_U_L8R]

5. Yeah - Kiss My Google Georgie

Reporting Back...

George Bush is an Idiot (no quotes) - 3,450,000 hits
George Bush is an Idiot (in quotes) - 10,600 hits (sometimes it reports 969 hits)

Okay here's what we could do.... our goal is to raise the
number of hits that "George Bush is an Idiot" appears in Google.
So.. go out and graffitti the web... with "George Bush Is An Idiot"...
Blogs, Bulletin Boards, Newsgroups, Email Footers, etc...

Should we make a go of it ?????

[W2Hague]

3. 8 reasons the Bushists might....

be interested in YOUR web surfing habits. The post is titled "The Illusion of Privacy" and can be viewed at __________ http://www.bruindesign.com


Peace
D.L. Bruin