“Google is resisting a White House subpoena to hand over the records of the searches internet users are asking it to perform, it has emerged. . . . The White House argues that a list of all requests entered into its search engine over a single week — which could span tens of millions of queries — will help it build up a profile of internet use it needs to defend an online pornography law. It also wants a million randomly selected addresses from the index of websites that Google searches. . . . The Bush administration insists it does not want to tie the search requests to the person or computer that made them but the subpoena has nevertheless raised serious privacy concerns.” (Guardian, Friday)
An ominous request.
FEE Timely Classic
“Ignoring Real Privacy Problems” by James Plummer