AOL search logs: law enforcement implications

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Richard Wiggins <richard.wiggins () gmail com>
Date: August 13, 2006 2:04:15 PM EDT
To: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
Subject: AOL search logs: law enforcement implications

Dave,

For IP if you wish:

Imagine how law enforcement at all levels is reacting to the AOL  
search log exposure.  Now there is a searchable database of the  
search logs: See http://www.aolsearchdatabase.

You can quickly locate people who may be planning crimes. We find,  
for instance, 43,206 people searched for "child porn." Now, do a new  
search, filtering only by a user number. You'll see all the searches  
that person did over a three month period.

Here's what's going to happen: law enforcement officers at every  
level are mining this data right now for unsavory searches. When they  
find a pattern of worrisome searches -- user 2150654 seems very  
interested in how to make meth -- they'll search for clues to the  
identities of these searchers. If they can't find a person's  
identities in the search logs, they'll pursue a subpoena to make AOL  
cough up the screen name.

In many cases, this will lead to arrests and probably successful  
prosecutions.

And then watch law enforcement at all levels demand the ability to  
fish through search logs indiscriminately anytime they want.
/rich


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