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Private entranceUser 4417749, and User 927 they are called. User 4417749 is interested in landscaping providers in a Georgia town, men in their 60's, and cleaning dog pee off the carpets. Is a picture already forming in your mind? User 927 has sought information on skin mold, Yoko Ono, dog sex and mange. That's just off the top of the report: consumerist has the link to 927's entire history. The info on 4417749 comes from a New York Times article.

Despite my previous "what's the bid deal" rap, it's daunting stuff, and I wonder what picture my own quirks and preoccupations would be formed from a report of my own searches. The story, despite AOL's quick admission of a "screw up" and its apology, has continued to grow throughout the week.

We know that lessons on keeping stewardship of privacy are hard to learn. Two kids were arrested just the other day for the theft of a laptop containing data on over 25 million active and former U.S. military personnel. How else could a second laptop scandal involving U.S. military veterans personal information occur within months of the first? Because everyone's data is everywhere, maybe the real surprise is new stories like this don't break hourly.

Continue reading AOL users by the ####'s: two cases

AOL users by the ####'s: two cases originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 09 Aug 2006 16:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aolconsumer protectionConsumerProtectionidentity theftIdentityTheftnet privacyNetPrivacytime warnerTimeWarnertwxWed, 09 Aug 2006 16:23:00 EST<![CDATA[AOL search data release a "screw up"]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2006/08/07/aol-search-data-release-a-screw-up/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2006/08/07/aol-search-data-release-a-screw-up/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2006/08/07/aol-search-data-release-a-screw-up/#commentsFiled under: , ,

"This was a screw up, and we're angry and upset about it," Andrew Weinstein, an AOL spokesman said.

AOL released search information on about 20 million searches done from software over a three-month period. They characterized the leak as a small portion of keyword search info for about 658,000 anonymous users with the intent of reaching out to academia with new research tools. The info was released more than ten days ago, but not noticed till this weekend.

Searchers personal IDs were replaced with random numbers, so I'll admit my ignorance: I fail to see what the fuss is about. With luck, some commentators will weigh in here with their opinions, and set me straight on that. Is it the principle, or is there a real violation of privacy here? Are you unnerved about what companies might do with your search data?

Michael Canfield is a private investor and writer, in Seattle. He doesn't own stock in Time Warner, and is a freelancer, not an employee of AOL or Time Warner.

AOL search data release a "screw up" originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 07 Aug 2006 15:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aolaol screw upAolScrewUpnet privacyNetPrivacyTime WarnerTimeWarnerMon, 07 Aug 2006 15:23:00 EST