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PSGuru · 08-17-2006, 07:26 AM

http://www.techtree.com/techtree/jsp...249&cat_id=643

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EEF) has reportedly asked the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate America Online (AOL), alleging that the latter published around 20 million search records of its 658,000-odd subscribers, thereby violating user privacy norms. The investigations are expected to be conducted across a three-month period.

Reports say that AOL kept search results of its users posted for nearly a week and a half before removing them, thus enabling people to save their own copies of information and potentially circulate the same over the Web.

The EEF says that AOL has violated its own privacy policy as also FTC regulations, and that it should be ordered to notify the people affected, as also to stop logging search data except wherein absolutely necessary.

In an 11-page complaint, EEF has proceeded to prompt an FTC probe forcing AOL to disclose additional information about the incident, as also inform all parties potentially affected, plus provide a year's worth of free credit monitoring. In support of its complaint, EFF has submitted (confidentially) examples of search queries that contain information that could be tied-up to particular AOL subscribers.

In a statement, Marcia Hofmann, attorney, EEF, said, "Search terms can expose the most intimate details of a person's life, private information about one's family problems, one's medical history, financial situation, political and religious beliefs, sexual preferences, and much more."

"At the very least, AOL should notify every customer whose privacy has been jeopardized by the company's careless handling of this incredibly private information, and AOL should not store this kind of data in future when it doesn't have to," Hofmann said.

Meanwhile, AOL has acknowledged that it posted and then took-down the information. The company has apologized for what it says is a mistake on the part of its research team. However, now that the data has been removed by AOL from its Web site, it is still freely available from other sites on the Internet.

Kevin Bankston, attorney, EEF, said, "We have asked the FTC to make sure that AOL rectifies the damage that's been done, and improves its privacy protection for the future."

"But this problem isn't limited to AOL, every search company stores this kind of data. Hopefully, AOL's shocking violation of its users' privacy will spur Congress to clarify that the same law that prevents these companies from disclosing our personal emails, also applies to our search logs," Bankston said.

08-17-2006, 07:26 AM
PSGuru Confirmed User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 552	Feds Asked to Investigate AOL http://www.techtree.com/techtree/jsp...249&cat_id=643 The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EEF) has reportedly asked the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate America Online (AOL), alleging that the latter published around 20 million search records of its 658,000-odd subscribers, thereby violating user privacy norms. The investigations are expected to be conducted across a three-month period. Reports say that AOL kept search results of its users posted for nearly a week and a half before removing them, thus enabling people to save their own copies of information and potentially circulate the same over the Web. The EEF says that AOL has violated its own privacy policy as also FTC regulations, and that it should be ordered to notify the people affected, as also to stop logging search data except wherein absolutely necessary. In an 11-page complaint, EEF has proceeded to prompt an FTC probe forcing AOL to disclose additional information about the incident, as also inform all parties potentially affected, plus provide a year's worth of free credit monitoring. In support of its complaint, EFF has submitted (confidentially) examples of search queries that contain information that could be tied-up to particular AOL subscribers. In a statement, Marcia Hofmann, attorney, EEF, said, "Search terms can expose the most intimate details of a person's life, private information about one's family problems, one's medical history, financial situation, political and religious beliefs, sexual preferences, and much more." "At the very least, AOL should notify every customer whose privacy has been jeopardized by the company's careless handling of this incredibly private information, and AOL should not store this kind of data in future when it doesn't have to," Hofmann said. Meanwhile, AOL has acknowledged that it posted and then took-down the information. The company has apologized for what it says is a mistake on the part of its research team. However, now that the data has been removed by AOL from its Web site, it is still freely available from other sites on the Internet. Kevin Bankston, attorney, EEF, said, "We have asked the FTC to make sure that AOL rectifies the damage that's been done, and improves its privacy protection for the future." "But this problem isn't limited to AOL, every search company stores this kind of data. Hopefully, AOL's shocking violation of its users' privacy will spur Congress to clarify that the same law that prevents these companies from disclosing our personal emails, also applies to our search logs," Bankston said.