logo

U.S. PIRG Consumer Blog

« New early warning defects database for cars | Main | Consumer groups petition FTC on gift cards »

September 11, 2008

Google 's new privacy offer, not so much

Over at his Surveillance State blog, Chris Soghoian Debunks Google's log anonymization propaganda.

Google announced on Monday that the company will be reducing the amount of time that it will keep sensitive, identifying log data on its search engine customers. To the naive reader, the announcement seems like a clear win for privacy. However, with a bit of careful analysis, it's possible to see that this is little more than snake oil, designed to look good for the newspapers, without delivering real benefits to end users.
Warning: Some of it rates a little high on the geek-meter, way into the red zone, but it's clearly explained and it is important stuff.

Posted by Ed Mierzwinski at September 11, 2008 04:17 PM


Comments

Post a comment




Remember Me?



218 D. Street, SE Washington, DC 20003
Phone (202) 546-9707

E-mail: