In Google We Trust

On its blog, Google posted its response to the government's request that it turn over search data. Google's primary objections are:

the government needs a warrant or court order to obtain the data
the data from one week's searches tell little about how searches are done today, and bots make it impossible to identify human searches
the loss of faith in Google's service will break users' trust and do irreparable harm to Google
disclosing the data would reveal Google's trade secrets

Should this case proceed in the courts, it could set precedent about the right to privacy for people using search. Google's assumes that though it may store data about searches and cache data to make an individual's repeat searches more efficient, the individual "owns" the data about what and when they searched.

This is the implicit trust that we give when using web or desktop search and, and a decision that breaks that trust would have considerable ramifications for the search industry.

"The privacy and anonymity of the service are major factors in the attraction of users – that is, users trust Google to do right by their personal information and to provide them with the best search results. If users believe that the text of their search queries into Google's search engine may become public knowledge, it only logically follows that they will be less likely to use the service."

This data should only be made available through a court order (giving new meaning to the term "search warrant") that targets a specific individual suspected of breaking the law.

In the future, search engines, shopping engines, stores and portals will increasingly be matching individuals to searches through behavioral and target marketing. Forcing them to turn over records en masse would quash user's interest in disclosing the information about themselves that could be used to enhance their search.

Hey government, don't be evil.