more on AOL search logs: law enforcement implications

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Peter Capek <capek () ieee org>
Date: August 14, 2006 1:20:11 PM EDT
To: dave () farber net
Cc: ip () v2 listbox com
Subject: Re: [IP] AOL search logs: law enforcement implications

Richard Wiggins wrote:

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


I fear this is indeed a likely scenario.   I wonder if AOL has  
already destroyed the
data which relates real screen names to the "random" ones in the  
published search
data.  Since, as far as we know, it's not yet evidence, AOL could  
perhaps forestall
another public relations debacle by doing so now.  Of course, if they  
don't do so,
I suppose they could claim to (at least) be helping law enforcement  
by making a
virtue, as viewed by some people, of the data release.  This course  
may not be
possible though, given that we now that AOL keeps fully identified  
search logs
and could be forced to search them to find the "offending" user.

                Peter Capek






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