Google Me Not

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: bill keeshen <keeshen () gmail com>
Date: September 24, 2004 4:45:31 PM EDT
To: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Subject: Google Me Not
Reply-To: bill keeshen <keeshen () gmail com>

Google Me Not


Keeping confidential company data, or last weekend's cocktail party
photos, away from search engines has become a growth business.
Type the right words into Google and up comes a trove of files
documenting an acrimonious divorce between two business executives in
San Diego. Support payments are calculated based on a $450,000 income.
The husband accuses the wife of being a "shop-a-holic." He lists all
her possessions, including furs worth $15,000. He's eager to finalize
the divorce, because, as he writes, he was to marry again in June. All
this is personal, private information, no longer even up on the
original Web site, yet stored by Google for everyone to see, including
friends, family and business associates who enter in the divorced
couple's names. When reached by phone, the husband says he is "stunned
and shocked" that FORBES is interested in the matter at all.

.....

Like libraries, Google and its search rivals do not assume
responsibility for the content that they catalog. But with lawsuits
filed at the drop of a hat, search services should take note. In June
Varian Medical Systems won a case against two former employees who
defamed company executives online, winning $775,000 in damages in
what's become a landmark Internet speech case. A judge ruled last year
in New Hampshire that Docusearch, a purveyor of personal information,
could be sued for the death of a stalking victim whose murderer used
its services. (The case was settled before trial.)

Sun Microsystems Chairman Scott McNealy famously said, "You already
have zero privacy. Get over it." That's not quite true. You can fight
back, up to a point.




http://www.keepmedia.com/pubs/Forbes/2004/08/16/517843

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