Privacy Note Found on Google Blog

[Triana]

FYI (in case you haven't seen it). Quote from a recent posting in the official Google blog

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2007/03/taking-steps-to-further-improve-our.html

"When you search on Google, we collect information about your search, such as the query itself, IP addresses and cookie details. Previously, we kept this data for as long as it was useful. Today we're pleased to report a change in our privacy policy: Unless we're legally required to retain log data for longer, we will anonymize our server logs after a limited period of time. When we implement this policy change in the coming months, we will continue to keep server log data (so that we can improve Google's services and protect them from security and other abuses)—but will make this data much more anonymous, so that it can no longer be identified with individual users, after 18-24 months.

After talking with leading privacy stakeholders in Europe and the U.S., we're pleased to be taking this important step toward protecting your privacy.

In the future, it's possible that data retention laws will obligate us to retain logs for longer periods.

Our engineers are already busy working out the technical details, and we hope to implement this new data policy over the coming months (and within a year's time).

If you want to know more, read the log retention FAQ <http://216.239.57.110/blog_resources/google_log_retention_policy_faq.pdf> (PDF)."

[blogslut]

1. yep

:)

[miketorse]

2. Great! n/t

[leveymg]

3. Might be a backward step. How long did they retain it previously?

Could have been 30 days. Unless they tell us, we have no way of knowing whether this is a good thing or a not at all good thing.

[Richard Steele]

7. They currently keep it FOREVER.

Of course, their "unless required to by law" phrase means
they will CONTINUE to keep it forever...because that's what
BushCabal™ is currently pretending the law requires.

[Lex]

8. Well dang.

I should've known that but I didn't.

[leveymg]

9. How do you know that?

I just quickly skimmed the new disclaimer, but "for as long as it was useful" doesn't appear to state that the previous practice was to retain data forever.

[peacetalksforall]

4. THAT WAS THE MOST KNOW-NOTHNG PIECE I'VE READ IN A

long time.

I assume that there are a few around the country who are knowledgeable enough to interpret this piece of obfuscation - maybe even on DU.

[Triana]

6. I'm sorry you're confused by it (n/t)

[peacetalksforall]

11. It wasn't your fault. I'm glad you posted - I thought it took me in

circles. I culdn't figure out why talking to Europe had anything to do with us - we're living under Republican police and they aren't. Google can code anyway they want, i.e., by geographical area.

No, not your fault. Thanks for posting. I'll be watching. But, I'll also continue to search out and use other engines as well.

[demobabe]

10. This is a good thing

Whenever you visit ANY website, you send a request for data. Included in that request is all kinds of stuff: your IP address (which can be traced to your location), as well as other information such as what internet browser you're using, what operating system your computer is using, as well as other personally identifiable data.

Google is saying they're making this data anonymous after a certain length of time, so this is good news, unless you'd like someone to be able to subpeona your search records for a longer period of time...

[peacetalksforall]

12. Thanks. I appreciate it.

[Lex]

5. 18-24 months?

:wtf: