Comments on: Google Flu Trends and Privacy http://www.fredtrotter.com/2008/11/25/google-flu-trends-and-privacy/ Hacktivist, coding for social change Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:14:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: ftrotter http://www.fredtrotter.com/2008/11/25/google-flu-trends-and-privacy/comment-page-1/#comment-3682 ftrotter Thu, 27 Nov 2008 23:36:49 +0000 http://www.fredtrotter.com/2008/11/25/google-flu-trends-and-privacy/#comment-3682 I think you have it backwards. Google is in a position to aggregate your searches. That means that it can infer that you have HIV and/or other private information, based on aggregating all of your search terms. Google definitely can see that. The question is what does Google release and what does it keep in confidence? Now if Google provides the CDC with "dietary" search information (which is not a stretch) then the CDC "might be able to tell that it is Thanksgiving, by searches for turkey", without knowing about the vegetarian status of a particular individual. But Google sure as hell knows. I think you have it backwards. Google is in a position to aggregate your searches. That means that it can infer that you have HIV and/or other private information, based on aggregating all of your search terms. Google definitely can see that. The question is what does Google release and what does it keep in confidence?

Now if Google provides the CDC with “dietary” search information (which is not a stretch) then the CDC “might be able to tell that it is Thanksgiving, by searches for turkey”, without knowing about the vegetarian status of a particular individual. But Google sure as hell knows.

]]> By: Etienne http://www.fredtrotter.com/2008/11/25/google-flu-trends-and-privacy/comment-page-1/#comment-3680 Etienne Thu, 27 Nov 2008 21:09:51 +0000 http://www.fredtrotter.com/2008/11/25/google-flu-trends-and-privacy/#comment-3680 There are no privacy implications. Google can tell when its Thanksgiving by the searches for Turkey, but they can't infer from this whether a specific individual is a vegetarian or not. There are no privacy implications.

Google can tell when its Thanksgiving by the searches for Turkey, but they can’t infer from this whether a specific individual is a vegetarian or not.

]]> By: Ben http://www.fredtrotter.com/2008/11/25/google-flu-trends-and-privacy/comment-page-1/#comment-3664 Ben Wed, 26 Nov 2008 02:37:41 +0000 http://www.fredtrotter.com/2008/11/25/google-flu-trends-and-privacy/#comment-3664 What I meant is: why did you need comforting in the first place? Google isn't collecting any more data than prior to FluTrends, and FluTrends is aggregates at the State level. In other words, I don't see why the release of FluTrends is, in itself, anything to worry about. If you were worried about Google privacy before FluTrends, you should still be worried now, and if you weren't, there's no additional threat. What I meant is: why did you need comforting in the first place? Google isn’t collecting any more data than prior to FluTrends, and FluTrends is aggregates at the State level. In other words, I don’t see why the release of FluTrends is, in itself, anything to worry about. If you were worried about Google privacy before FluTrends, you should still be worried now, and if you weren’t, there’s no additional threat.

]]> By: ftrotter http://www.fredtrotter.com/2008/11/25/google-flu-trends-and-privacy/comment-page-1/#comment-3660 ftrotter Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:49:56 +0000 http://www.fredtrotter.com/2008/11/25/google-flu-trends-and-privacy/#comment-3660 You have to read Google's response to see why I find it comforting.... First, they do not provide the CDC anything but aggregate data. Second, the data that they are using for this project -is- subject to their current internal de-identification policy. You have to read Google’s response to see why I find it comforting…. First, they do not provide the CDC anything but aggregate data. Second, the data that they are using for this project -is- subject to their current internal de-identification policy.

]]> By: Benlog » Privacy Advocacy Stunts http://www.fredtrotter.com/2008/11/25/google-flu-trends-and-privacy/comment-page-1/#comment-3657 Benlog » Privacy Advocacy Stunts Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:40:46 +0000 http://www.fredtrotter.com/2008/11/25/google-flu-trends-and-privacy/#comment-3657 [...] I see that Fred Totter is commending Peel and EPIC on this action, saying it reassures him. Interesting. But why is this [...] [...] I see that Fred Totter is commending Peel and EPIC on this action, saying it reassures him. Interesting. But why is this [...]

]]>