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December 17, 2008
Yahoo! to Anonymize Data After 90 Days
Yahoo! will begin anonymizing the data it collects after just 90 days, according to a statement released by the company. The data includes search logs, page views, page clicks, ad views and ad clicks.
"In our world of customized online services, responsible use of data is critical to establishing and maintaining user trust," said Anne Toth, Yahoo!'s Vice President of Policy and Head of Privacy. "We know that our users expect relevant and compelling content and advertising when they visit Yahoo!, but they also want assurances that we are focused on protecting their privacy."
Personally, I wish the search engines would do a better job of informing the public about how their data collection really isn't the privacy issue that so many make it out to be. I don't think anyone at Yahoo! or Google is sitting around looking at what *I'm* doing on the internet. They have millions of people using their services. They don't have the time to sit around and watch what each individual is doing. Search engines were built on a system of automation, partially for this reason. From their perspective, I'm just a number that contributes (or doesn't) to trends and behavior.
But that's just my opinion. What do YOU think? Leave a comment and let us know.
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Posted by Nathania Johnson on December 17, 2008 9:36 AM
Comments
Nathania, don't you remember the big debacle back when the AOL data was released to the public? It's no so much a matter of a search engine employee looking at what you are doing - it's that data getting into someone else's hands - someone who very much would like to look at what you are doing. Poor old Thelma Arnold had her searches exposed by the data - even though it was "anonymized" - so don't be lulled into a sense of peace by thinking you are just a number. And if for some reason, some government decides it needs your data (rightly or wrongly) and a search engine agrees to give it (it happens), ... There are tons of reasons why the issue is important, and whether or not an employee is looking at what you do is by far the least of the worries.
DazzlinDonna December 17, 2008 10:53 AM
Search engines may not want to know what individuals are doing, but I bet the security agencies are tapping into their databases to keep a very, very close eye on what is going on worldwide.
I also bet they are using these methods for seeking out people they term as 'undesirables' from what we, the people, all search for....
So, yes you are right, we may only be a number to Google or Yahoo, but we are certainly NOT just a number to Big Brother because he is watching everything we do.
Think I am paranoid? I don't care. We will see who is ultimately right. Just don't lull everyone into a false sense of security with these kind of comments please.
Paul December 17, 2008 8:11 PM
I agree with Dazzlindonna, I don't think the search data in aggregate is much of a threat. ...think instead if say the government bought the data from Google/Yahoo, or MS and say made a list of everybody who might be a terrorist or criminal? If they told your job this would your employment be safe? What if the government somehow concluded you might be a threat to your employer in some way and told your employer?
Privacy is more important than most realize and there is good cause to protect it.
Privacy advocate December 23, 2008 8:12 AM
