AOL in the news again

[Dustin]

Aug 6

"AOL just released the logs of all searches done by 500,000 of their users over the course of three months earlier this year. That means that if you happened to be randomly chosen as one of these users, everything you searched for from March to May (2006) is now public information on the internet.

This was not a leak - it was intentional. In their desperation to gain recognition from the research community, AOL decided they would compromise their integrity to provide a data set that might become often-cited in research papers: "Please reference the following publication when using this collection..." is the message before the download. "

It looks like AOL did remove the information today, though you can still find it floating around on the web if you look hard enough. Makes you wonder what the higher ups were thinking?

source http://www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~dangelo/aol-search-query-logs/

[page1ink.]

Yeah, AOL messed up bigtime. I still don't know what they were thinking. This is going to turn into a big fiasco as far as online rights go ;_;

More information at the following:
Original /. article: AOL Releases Search Logs of 657,427 Users (http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/08/07/2022244)
Followup /. article: The Face of One AOL Searcher Exposed (http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/08/09/126237)
Search Database has been leaked (http://www.aolsearchdatabase.com/)

[BrandonK]

The way I see it is if you're not doing anything wrong you have nothing to worry about. ;)

[page1ink.]

the problem there lies in who gets to decide what's wrong and what's not.

this isn't neccessarily about doing anything illegal. some of the data includes addresses, phone numbers, and SSN numbers.

besides, privacy is a f#"$(ng right! do you want all your telephone conversations recorded? mail read? do you mind if the police decide they want to walk into your house unannounced because you looked at a web page about cyanide (http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts8.html#bookmark08)? it's a matter of dignity. because it's not illegal doesn't mean it's not private.

[dvessel]

Even beyond that the searches reveal way more when tracked like this. It's more personal. It's you and your inner intentions.

This New York Times article illustrates that very well (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/09/technology/09aol.html?ei=5090&en=f6f61949c6da4d38&ex=1312776000&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all):

Anyone from AOL? Try and find your trail in here:
http://www.aolsearchdatabase.com/

Feel like a peeping tom browsing in there. :o

[Dustin]

Yeah, it is a very bad idea. Their idea to randomize the data with numbers totally failed.

For instance, lets say i google weather in orem, as well as a few other things in orem. that right there gives you an idea of where i live. lets say i look up chillis on university parkway and thats another indication of the area where i live.

I know for a fact i've even searched my full name in the search engine from boredom to see what results I get. But I agree everyone has the right to their own privacy, I dont think we're quite ready for a 'Big Brother' government.

[dvessel]

Your slacking Dustin. You didn't post this story about AOL. ;)

http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/08/15/spammer.gold.ap/index.html

All I can say is that they guys behind AOL are on crack. Arrgh!!! Me treasure!

[Frusis]

Hahaha! However, in a way I kind of admire their efforts. I think they're trying to send the message "You're not going to get away with spamming our network." I honestly wish them the best of luck.

[page1ink.]

To win a judge's permission for the search, AOL submitted receipts reflecting large purchases by Hawke of gold and platinum bars, Graham said. The company indicated it believes Hawke buried the loot on his parents' property using a shovel.

This made me laugh. I wonder how that conversation went down?

Exec 1: "Hm, he's bought all this gold and platinum.. I wonder where it could be?"
Exec 2: "Clearly the only logical conclusion is that it's buried in his mother's yard!"
Exec 1: "Brilliant! Meet you there tomorrow morning. Bring a shovel!"

Honestly, what the hell kind of drugs are they on over there??

[BearState]

The way I see it is if you're not doing anything wrong you have nothing to worry about. ;)

Does that mean everybody worries?

[dvessel]

This made me laugh. I wonder how that conversation went down?

Exec 1: "Hm, he's bought all this gold and platinum.. I wonder where it could be?"
Exec 2: "Clearly the only logical conclusion is that it's buried in his mother's yard!"
Exec 1: "Brilliant! Meet you there tomorrow morning. Bring a shovel!"

Honestly, what the hell kind of drugs are they on over there??

Exec 2: "You know, this gives me an idea. Forget the shovel. Lets create a reality TV program where random gold diggers do the digging for us!"
Exec 1: "OMG! OMG! This is it! And we can place clues online to gather all the contestants!"
Exec 2: "Brilliant! What should we call it? Uhm.. How about Gold Rush?"
Exec 1: "That's it!! This could show the world how great we really are. Could you pass the crack Jim?"

http://goldrush.aol.com/ <-- Sadly, the show is for real.

I can see a South Park episode like this coming along soon. :D I can't wait to see it.

[Dustin]

I missed that story but honestly, there are no words that I can think of to say on the matter.

[dvessel]

Seriously, it's nice to see that they are serious about spam. Kudos for that but digging for gold & platinum at the parents house? It's just way too easy to poke fun. With all the bad press they should be careful about how they go about their business.

[page1ink.]

http://goldrush.aol.com/ <-- Sadly, the show is for real.

I... but... you.... they..

T..

Stupid....too...overwhelming....

...must....lay..down... ugnn..

[dvessel]

I know how you feel. Just take a nap, this world is but a dream... Then you wake up and it's so surreal. All I can do is laugh but it's so, so sad. ;)