Search data is far from harmless or anonymous. Have you ever done a search for your own name, phone number, or SSN? What about friends or business associates name, or the name of the company that you work for? Do you want that data tied to your personal search history? I bet of I had access Googles search database I could figure out several peoples identities. All you need to do is start with a few unique search terms. For example, I know several people have done searches for my name. I have a unique name and I suspect that there are only a few people on the planet with the same combination of first and last name and, only people who know me would be searching for it. Once I identify who is searching for my name, all in need to do is review the rest of the search history and I bet I could guess 99% of the time who the data set belongs to, if I know the person. I know that women whom I have dated have searched for my name. I'm sure they would not want me to see their search history. What if they searched for "how to kill your boyfriend?" would this justify a restraining order? Search data is not anonymous. In fact it is more like having a peek into someone's mind. It is personal and private and should never be shared under any circumstances without the permission of the person doing the searches.
Also without proper context the data is not meaningful. I am a security consultant and I have done many searches on things like "blast ratings" "WTC bombing" "hazmat use as a weapon" "how build an IED" "transportation vulnerabilities" etc. If someone were to see my search history and make a judgment about its purpose before they know more about me, they might seriously mischaracterize me.
In fact, I bet with the IP address of the computer I am using, plus the information in this post, a determined person with access to google's search data would have a reasonable chance of identifying me.
I appreciate your comments to my post and I fully agree with your statement that oversight is the real issue. However, I feel that appropriate oversight exists within the intelligence oversight committees which are comprised of elected officials. Also, I support the issuance of warrants to provide additional oversight. Not withstanding, I feel that a compromise should be made regarding this database. If we give the NSA (or the FBI) the right to collect this data to have it on hand should the need arise, then when NSA or another federal agency needs to access this data a warrant could be issued and the database could be searched. I do not feel that the creation of the database,in it self, constitutes a violation of anyone's civil rights. After all, the phone companies have been collecting this data for years.
Also, to respond to "How do we know?" Well, that is a difficult question when it comes to intelligence gathering, but that is why there are senate and house intelligence oversight committees. Presumably the men and women that we elected are acting responsibly and looking out for our best interests. If the committees are not then we are in big trouble! The intelligence committees are probably thrilled that NSA is taking the heat. However, instead of criticising the NSA criticise the oversight committees. The NSA has a job to do and the oversight committees are responsible for making sure that NSA follows the rules. Clearly the committees felt that the rules were being followed. Google "intelligence oversight committee" and let the members know if you feel they are not doing their jobs.
By the way since buying pot is still illegal, despite the fact that putting pot users in jail is one of the most inane wastes of resources and I do not support the practice, the FBI should have the tools to view the phone records of convicted pot dealers to ascertain who the buyers are. (again I think the criminalization of pot is foolish but the majority of voters seem to feel otherwise)
OK I'll stop talking now:-)
Funny . . . according to
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_history_of_N ew_Zealand_during_World_War_II
New Zealand in fact does defend its freedom. During WWII over 200,000 Kiwis fought along side the allies and suffered some of the highest casualty rates of the war. New Zealand to my knowledge was never attacked prior to entering WWII, yet your nation still fought against fascism and therefore, for freedom. Your freedom was won by the blood of your own countrymen whom I suspect are still ready to do what needs to be done should the need ever arise. New Zealand has participated in most every major conflict either as war-fighters, peacekeepers, or as humanitarian aide.
You are fortunate to live in a country unencumbered by an ongoing threat of terrorism and I respect your governments decision to oppose the U.S. attack in Iraq. Remember though, that New Zealand has shed its share of blood to guarantee the freedom that you now enjoy.
You are in charge of gathering information to prevent catastrophic loss of life. Your enemies are operating within the borders of your own country. You are a GS-13 NSA analyst that probably graduated at the top of your class and could easily walk into a corporate job that would pay 3 times your current salary.
Why do you think that analyst is there? To catch you talking to your pot dealer over the phone? To support the agenda of a narrow minded politician? To take away your civil liberties or freedom of speech? I don't think so. How about too make a positive impact on the world by gathering and protecting information to prevent terrorists from carrying out acts of violence and to stop hostile countries from threatening the security of the United States and its allies. Because that is what the NSA does! I agree that the government should not have unilateral power to surveil American citizens, or anyone for that matter. However, a tool like the database being discussed would be extremely valuable to the intelligence community. With appropriate oversight, such a system may prevent and probably already has helped prevent domestic acts of terrorism. Remember our elected officials still call the shots and make the rules. If politicians misuse the database then we as a society have a mechanism to remove them from office. It's called free elections. Everyone complaining about the NSA database voted in the last election right?
Before you criticise the actions of our government, and I do feel that the current administration deserves criticism, remember that it is your government and you have the power to change it by speaking out and being politically active. Make your feelings known by writing to your congressmen and senators, and vote!!
Slashdot Mirror
Wires a few feet wide? Please explain this.
Search data is far from harmless or anonymous. Have you ever done a search for your own name, phone number, or SSN? What about friends or business associates name, or the name of the company that you work for? Do you want that data tied to your personal search history? I bet of I had access Googles search database I could figure out several peoples identities. All you need to do is start with a few unique search terms. For example, I know several people have done searches for my name. I have a unique name and I suspect that there are only a few people on the planet with the same combination of first and last name and, only people who know me would be searching for it. Once I identify who is searching for my name, all in need to do is review the rest of the search history and I bet I could guess 99% of the time who the data set belongs to, if I know the person. I know that women whom I have dated have searched for my name. I'm sure they would not want me to see their search history. What if they searched for "how to kill your boyfriend?" would this justify a restraining order? Search data is not anonymous. In fact it is more like having a peek into someone's mind. It is personal and private and should never be shared under any circumstances without the permission of the person doing the searches. Also without proper context the data is not meaningful. I am a security consultant and I have done many searches on things like "blast ratings" "WTC bombing" "hazmat use as a weapon" "how build an IED" "transportation vulnerabilities" etc. If someone were to see my search history and make a judgment about its purpose before they know more about me, they might seriously mischaracterize me. In fact, I bet with the IP address of the computer I am using, plus the information in this post, a determined person with access to google's search data would have a reasonable chance of identifying me.
I appreciate your comments to my post and I fully agree with your statement that oversight is the real issue. However, I feel that appropriate oversight exists within the intelligence oversight committees which are comprised of elected officials. Also, I support the issuance of warrants to provide additional oversight. Not withstanding, I feel that a compromise should be made regarding this database. If we give the NSA (or the FBI) the right to collect this data to have it on hand should the need arise, then when NSA or another federal agency needs to access this data a warrant could be issued and the database could be searched. I do not feel that the creation of the database ,in it self, constitutes a violation of anyone's civil rights. After all, the phone companies have been collecting this data for years.
Also, to respond to "How do we know?" Well, that is a difficult question when it comes to intelligence gathering, but that is why there are senate and house intelligence oversight committees. Presumably the men and women that we elected are acting responsibly and looking out for our best interests. If the committees are not then we are in big trouble! The intelligence committees are probably thrilled that NSA is taking the heat. However, instead of criticising the NSA criticise the oversight committees. The NSA has a job to do and the oversight committees are responsible for making sure that NSA follows the rules. Clearly the committees felt that the rules were being followed. Google "intelligence oversight committee" and let the members know if you feel they are not doing their jobs.
By the way since buying pot is still illegal, despite the fact that putting pot users in jail is one of the most inane wastes of resources and I do not support the practice, the FBI should have the tools to view the phone records of convicted pot dealers to ascertain who the buyers are. (again I think the criminalization of pot is foolish but the majority of voters seem to feel otherwise)
OK I'll stop talking now :-)
Funny . . . according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_history_of_N ew_Zealand_during_World_War_II
New Zealand in fact does defend its freedom. During WWII over 200,000 Kiwis fought along side the allies and suffered some of the highest casualty rates of the war. New Zealand to my knowledge was never attacked prior to entering WWII, yet your nation still fought against fascism and therefore, for freedom. Your freedom was won by the blood of your own countrymen whom I suspect are still ready to do what needs to be done should the need ever arise. New Zealand has participated in most every major conflict either as war-fighters, peacekeepers, or as humanitarian aide.
You are fortunate to live in a country unencumbered by an ongoing threat of terrorism and I respect your governments decision to oppose the U.S. attack in Iraq. Remember though, that New Zealand has shed its share of blood to guarantee the freedom that you now enjoy.
You are in charge of gathering information to prevent catastrophic loss of life. Your enemies are operating within the borders of your own country. You are a GS-13 NSA analyst that probably graduated at the top of your class and could easily walk into a corporate job that would pay 3 times your current salary. Why do you think that analyst is there? To catch you talking to your pot dealer over the phone? To support the agenda of a narrow minded politician? To take away your civil liberties or freedom of speech? I don't think so. How about too make a positive impact on the world by gathering and protecting information to prevent terrorists from carrying out acts of violence and to stop hostile countries from threatening the security of the United States and its allies. Because that is what the NSA does! I agree that the government should not have unilateral power to surveil American citizens, or anyone for that matter. However, a tool like the database being discussed would be extremely valuable to the intelligence community. With appropriate oversight, such a system may prevent and probably already has helped prevent domestic acts of terrorism. Remember our elected officials still call the shots and make the rules. If politicians misuse the database then we as a society have a mechanism to remove them from office. It's called free elections. Everyone complaining about the NSA database voted in the last election right? Before you criticise the actions of our government, and I do feel that the current administration deserves criticism, remember that it is your government and you have the power to change it by speaking out and being politically active. Make your feelings known by writing to your congressmen and senators, and vote!!