AOL data leak may give data retention bill new life

Iria · Aug 14, 2006, 03:59 AM

Source: Ars Technica
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When H.R. 4731 was introduced in February, the "Eliminate Warehousing of Consumer Internet Data Act of 2006" (EWOCID) received little notice. The bill, introduced by Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA), would require search engines and other "owners of Internet websites" to destroy all personal data collected on its users within "a reasonable period of time." Since its introduction, it has been languishing in committee, but one recent, high-profile event may change that.

Last week, AOL made a complete, three-month set of 658,000 search queries briefly available before realizing its error and taking the database offline. Although it was only up for a few hours, the damage was done. Mirrors of the site containing all of the data quickly appeared elsewhere on the Internet. All of the searchers were identified only by a identification number, but that didn't keep the New York Times from putting together the pieces of data to identify AOL searcher no. 4417749.

In the wake of AOL's foul-up, Rep. Markey is pushing for the House Telecommunications and Internet Subcommittee to take up the EWOCID Act. In a statement, he said that the AOL data release should be a wake-up call for those concerned about privacy and data security. "This stored-up data about consumers’ Internet use should not be needlessly kept in perpetuity, inviting data thieves or fraudsters, or disclosure through judicial fishing expeditions," said Rep. Markey in a statement.

The_Neon_Cowboy · Aug 14, 2006, 05:24 AM

yes~ much needed!!!

Aug 14, 2006, 03:59 AM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 87	AOL data leak may give data retention bill new life Source: Ars Technica _______ When H.R. 4731 was introduced in February, the "Eliminate Warehousing of Consumer Internet Data Act of 2006" (EWOCID) received little notice. The bill, introduced by Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA), would require search engines and other "owners of Internet websites" to destroy all personal data collected on its users within "a reasonable period of time." Since its introduction, it has been languishing in committee, but one recent, high-profile event may change that. Last week, AOL made a complete, three-month set of 658,000 search queries briefly available before realizing its error and taking the database offline. Although it was only up for a few hours, the damage was done. Mirrors of the site containing all of the data quickly appeared elsewhere on the Internet. All of the searchers were identified only by a identification number, but that didn't keep the New York Times from putting together the pieces of data to identify AOL searcher no. 4417749. In the wake of AOL's foul-up, Rep. Markey is pushing for the House Telecommunications and Internet Subcommittee to take up the EWOCID Act. In a statement, he said that the AOL data release should be a wake-up call for those concerned about privacy and data security. "This stored-up data about consumers’ Internet use should not be needlessly kept in perpetuity, inviting data thieves or fraudsters, or disclosure through judicial fishing expeditions," said Rep. Markey in a statement.

Aug 14, 2006, 05:24 AM	#2
The_Neon_Cowboy HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 16,009 Rep Power: 90 System Specs	yes~ much needed!!! __________________