Comments on: Google provides “Aggregate” search trends to government http://www.imasuper.com/160/technology/google-provides-aggregate-search-trends-to-government/ A super hero. With no powers. Or motivation. Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:26:31 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: imasuper http://www.imasuper.com/160/technology/google-provides-aggregate-search-trends-to-government/comment-page-1/#comment-556 imasuper Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:30:33 +0000 http://www.imasuper.com/?p=160#comment-556 I don't know that it's "very likely" that all or most search terms would contain personally identifiable information, but it is likely that at least a small portion of a segment of aggregate data would. Reading my article back to myself, I must say the concept of using search data to attempt to chart and track flu symptoms is a neat idea, and in a "go society!" kind of way, it's really great. But again, Google is a dangerous company to be doing things like this, for the reasons above. I don’t know that it’s “very likely” that all or most search terms would contain personally identifiable information, but it is likely that at least a small portion of a segment of aggregate data would.

Reading my article back to myself, I must say the concept of using search data to attempt to chart and track flu symptoms is a neat idea, and in a “go society!” kind of way, it’s really great. But again, Google is a dangerous company to be doing things like this, for the reasons above.

]]> By: Matt http://www.imasuper.com/160/technology/google-provides-aggregate-search-trends-to-government/comment-page-1/#comment-554 Matt Wed, 12 Nov 2008 05:54:20 +0000 http://www.imasuper.com/?p=160#comment-554 "Anonymized" data cannot be anonymous. People often search for their own name or address (ever get directions from Google Maps?). So even if they replace your name with a number, your search terms would very likely have identifying information. “Anonymized” data cannot be anonymous. People often search for their own name or address (ever get directions from Google Maps?). So even if they replace your name with a number, your search terms would very likely have identifying information.

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