Ian
Administrator
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2002
- Messages
- 19,878
- Reaction score
- 1,509
Last week AOL released search data on 650,000 users - allowing academic researchers to develop new tools based on the data.
However, the search data was easy for anyone to obtain and AOL have now removed the files due to privacy complaints. Although users were identified as #123456 instead of their screen name, it was possible for many people to be identified as they search for their own name, address or other personal features.
Many of the searches revealed deeply worrying trends from some users, looking for information on how to kill people and extremely worrying photos.
No doubt there will be some lawsuits over this from angry users.
Read more at the Guardian
However, the search data was easy for anyone to obtain and AOL have now removed the files due to privacy complaints. Although users were identified as #123456 instead of their screen name, it was possible for many people to be identified as they search for their own name, address or other personal features.
Many of the searches revealed deeply worrying trends from some users, looking for information on how to kill people and extremely worrying photos.
No doubt there will be some lawsuits over this from angry users.
Read more at the Guardian