November 15, 2008

Google "Flu Trends" Raises Privacy Concerns

Google announced this week a new web tool that may make it possible to detect flu outbreaks before they might otherwise be reported. Google Flu Trends relies on individual search terms, such as "flu symptoms," provided by Internet users. Google has said that it will only reveal aggregate data, but there are no clear legal or technological privacy safeguards to prevent the disclosure of individual search histories concerning the flu, or related medical concerns, such as "AIDS symptoms," "ritalin," or "Paxil." Privacy and medical groups have urged Google to be more transparent and publish the algorithm on which Flu Trends data is based so that the public can determine whether the privacy safeguards are adequate. At some point aggregate data is identifiable data. Advocacy groups are seeking information on the privacy protections intended to safeguard against abuse or misuse of search information.

Is There a Privacy Risk in Google Flu Trends?, New York Times, November 13, 2008