Updates on the AOL Scandal

Aol released private search queries of 500.000 AOL users to the public. Analysts and Journalists alike are having a busy time analysing the data for various reasons. I was able to identify three different motivations: 1. How big is the privacy breach, 2. Is it possible to identify someone from the queries and 3. analysing the queries from a marketing point of view.

Eliott Back searched the data for credit card numbers, social security numbers and email addresses and found disturbing numbers. He found an undisclosed amount of credit card numbers, about 200 social security numbers and nearly 60 email addresses. The danger that someone will misuse the given data is present and likely.

The first AOL user has been identified by the New York Times. AOL user 4417749, known as Thelma Arnold, a 62-year-old widow who lives in Lilburn, Ga., was identified by analyzing the searches she conducted. I suppose she will not be the last one that will be identified and there surely will be some sort of backlash for AOL.

Webmasters began to import the data into databases and offer ways to search the data here or here on the web for free.

The first response from AOL was that the data was released by mistake and that the intention was to reach the academic world. Unfortunately for them they came up with the idea to make this publicly available instead of giving it out only to people who request the data for research. They really should have know that this could have happened.