I’ve just read an interesting article at Slate called “Keeping Secrets“, where the author, a Professor Tim Wu makes some interesting points:
- We have to assume that the US Government (and others) will one day succeed at getting at Google’s search data (which includes semi-identifying information like a searcher’s IP address)
- While this identifying information has some value in improving the quality of search, that does not outweigh the potential privacy implications
- Seeing as there is little hope in reforming the Government’s attitude towards protecting freedom, the public should demand this protection from Google and ask them to stop storing the information.
(This isn’t a complete summary by any means – I encourage you to read the full article to get the complete context)
Its an interesting argument, but overall, I’m not convinced. The point that jars me the most is the last one, which he puts thusly:
Recent events suggest that relying on the present administration to protect such basic freedoms may be, shall we say, unpromising. Other governments are just as bad if not worse. That’s why the public’s demand must be of Google—not the state.
That really strikes me as back to front. Democratic Governments are our representatives. Their job is to represent us. If they are behaving in a way that goes against our wishes, then we get to fire them (come the next election). In this age of massive election campaigns, spin doctoring and presentation over substance, that concept may seem a little idealistic – nontheless, that is the principle on which most Western systems of government are based. (I happen to be an Australian, not an American, but the same principles apply).
I’m also not convinced of the argument that the disadvantages of storing the data outweigh the advantages. While Google (and the other search companies) are doing this purely out of self-interest, I’m the one who eventually benefits – I get to find what I’m looking for quicker and more efficiently, in an increasingly disorganised Internet. If you like, I’m trading – “you get to see where I’m going, in return for you providing me with better service”. And importantly, if I decide that I don’t wish to do that trade (some, or all of the time), there are third party services (anonymising proxies) that will let me keep my identity cloaked.
Just my idle thoughts on a pretty weighty topic….