Earlier last week, Google defied the US government by refusing to comply with a subpoena issued last summer. The subpoena called for Google to:
...hand over a list of all requests entered into Google's search engine during an unspecified single week — a breakdown that could conceivably span tens of millions of queries. In addition, it seeks 1 million randomly selected Web addresses from various Google databases. (Yahoo News)
Some people screamed "Big Brother" especially after G.W. Bush's authorization of eavesdropping on civilian communications after the Sept. 11 attacks without obtaining court approval. Microsoft, Yahoo and AOL have complied with similar subpoenas already.
Is the government out there to get us? Why are we so upset with the government? Is it really about privacy?
My friend Rob asked: Why aren't we upset with Google for having and retaining this information in the first place?
As a techie I can answer this question. All companies collect customer data, and it has nothing to do with privacy. Those records are always considered private data and there are very strict policies and regulations of keeping them as such. The reason why they collect user data (such as IPs, names, etc.) is that: 1) the data are used for aggregation analysis by demographics, etc. IPs, for example, are used for determining geographic or organizational information. They do not, for example, search WHOIS databases and get individual information (name, address, phone numbers, social security numbers, etc.) even though they can. I mean, we can even extend the argument and ask why Internet providers keep that information? But businesses have their reasons and none of those reasons pertain to privacy issues. Again, most companies including Google, Yahoo, etc. have strict policies and regulations with regard to these data. Also, a lot of ISPs do not provide individual information — dynamic IPs, IP masking, etc. At best, all you know is if the person comes from Hicktown, PA instead of New York. But internally, places like AOL could argument track every command you executed and every page you viewed or every site you visited merely by tracking your user account. It's already possible — the question is, would they do it?
So yes, it's a wide practice. Everyone does that. Do you think your information is not stored on Playboy's database? Do you think when you surf a porn site, they don't already have a record of your IP, maybe even your name and address? They do.
Now cookies and stuff are somewhat different — I can probably write a whole paper on it. In fact, many people already did. Google them (trying to be ironic here).
Article comments
1 - Nancy
I resent these companies warehousing my information just on the basic argument that it's MY information, not theirs, and they have no right to either store it or sell/lease/rent/use it for their own or anybody else' profits, without my express permission. What adds insult to injury is that I'm not even given the option of opting out.
2 - Maurice
This is a very reasoned approach to this topic. Well written, Ray. There is a lazy side of me that doesn't care because I never go to terrorist or porn sites. There is another side of me that just can't forget the opening scenes of 'Brazil'.
3 - Nancy
It isn't just that, tho, Maurice. As far as anyone wiretapping me, my life is so boring, the NSA probably assigns wiretapping me to agents they want to punish severely. It's the principle of it all, for me: it's MY information, and like my body parts or my identity, they have no right to use or access it without my informed consent. I suspect the vast majority of us have no reason for concern, because we don't do anything worth investigating. But that doesn't mean we should all let it slide. Both government and business have shown for years that they can't be trusted to adhere to either reason or courtesy or common sense when it comes to restricted access: give them a micrometer, and they try to steal the whole mile, in the case of business, to line their own pockets at your expense, which is adding insult to injury. They don't even bother to offer to share the proceeds netted by exploiting YOUR data!
4 - Maurice
There is another side of me that just can't forget the opening scene of 'Brazil'.
5 - Ray
But I think in this information age we are expected to provide the information. The only protection we have is if we don't go out or do anything at all -- becoming a recluse. Otherwise, we have to use our credit cards. We have to provide information when we apply for jobs, or membership to Sam's Club, or sign on a website like Amazon.com. Much of that information is not really confidential anyway (addresses, even phone numbers). Confidential info like SSN or income or children info are usually guarded as such and the companies have reasons to collect them. But if we can't trust that our employers, for example, would safe-guard the information, then what does that leave us? We'll be living in constant paranoia. There are regulations and policies for safe-keeping data, but nothing is guaranteed. If we're so paranoid, then don't visit a porn site or do or say anything remotely controversial or illegal. But what kind of living is that? :)
I don't think we need to be paranoid, but we do need to wonder how far they will go to get and use these data. The issue comes down to: Who do we trust? Do we trust our own government to do the right thing? I think that's the crux of the whole deal. The individual information is not the problem -- who cares if they know my IP and where I live? But when they tie to the other information such as what web site I went to and what commands I typed in -- it's the "idenfication" part that makes us all worried. What's to stop them from knocking on my door because I just happened to google "how make a bomb" because I am a writer and I am doing research.
But for now, I am NOT going to be paranoid.
Just a minute... there's someone at the door... brb...
6 - Ray
Sidebar: do you all find it ironic that the paragraph starting with "Google ads make people nervous" sits right next to... you guess it, Google ads!
I think it's rather amusing, folks.
;)