Hi there,

Recently I have heard that US gov makes all search engines reveal search lists of their users together with other personal information

What a time we have come to live in But anyway I would like to open this thread to help people protect themselves from "the flagship of democracy and freedom"

I would like to wellcome knowlegable and linuxminded people to share their ideas on the following:

1. What information can be collected ?
2. Where and in what form is it being stored ?
3. Techy tips and recomendations on browser policies, proxies, ect
4. Other helpfull techniecs to prevent search engines as Google from gathering unnecessary information about users, etc

Thank you very much for sharing your ideas

Got a source for this info? I don't live in the US so I don't really care that much but a claim like that needs a source to be credible.

Google is _the_ entity that knows all about you at the moment. The know what you search for online, they know what ads you click on, they know what ads are relevant to your emails, they know what kind of traffic your web site gets, they know what you search for on your desktop and they know what places on the planet are most interesting to look at through a satellite. If you have a problem with that then there are alternatives to every service they offer. Personally I don't have a major problem with them knowing a bit about me, all companies do consumer research, Google are just doing an exceptional job at it. If you do have a problem with them knowing too much about you then use other sites.

To add to the above - if you fear what Google will collect on their servers (it's not a new collection, the US Gov just wants Google to turn over server and search logs), use a friend's pc.

The greatest concern is not what info they have over you but what thay can do with it.
Even worse. In whose hands this ' harmless' information will end up, say in 5 - 15 years from now ? Who can give any guarantee it will stay only where it should saty ?

This is all over the tech news:
http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&ie...google&spell=1

The issue isn't with google, it is with the US gov. I'm not American either, but I would be plenty upset if my government was demanding to know what I search for, and by extension what sites I visit.

You need a subpoena to get my phone records to see who I call on the phone, and this really isn't much different.

Sometime during the 1950's my English teacher made our class go to the public library and choose a book, read it, and submit a book report. I went to my second ( history being the first ) favorite section of the library ( science fiction ) and chose the book 1984. In the Book there were devices in every room called viviscreens that would bring you messages from the government as well as be able to watch your every move within the room. There are people of my generation who are very worried about too much government control over the every day actions of ordinary people. There are those that fear that computers will someday be turned into viviscreens controlling our lives 24 hours a day. It may not occur in my lifetime or yours but a too large and oppressive government only brings disaster.

At this point, the US government has subpoenaed Google for a random list of searches from a certain time period, but Google has refused to hand over any search information.

That could change, but right now that's where it stands.

If Google gives in, plenty of people will stop using Google--that's for sure.

And use who? Yahoo, AOL, and msn have already given in...

The only true way to be secluded is to not use the net (at home anyhow). Your Isp can give this info as well. We as americans really have no freedom at all. Our goverment needs to be into everyones bussiness. What a spoiled brat (the USA).

You could always be super untracable and read a book

The re-education camps await those of you who do not Happily follow the teachings of Big Brother !!!

I think this is an issue not only for americans. Mistake those who are naive to think that their own government does't do the same to then. Besides to Google it's more a matter of political games, rather than consern about their clients.
So with that legal 'battle', I think it's only a matter of time...

Wander does anybody know a sutable link to good foreign search engines ?

i live in tasmania. heard of it? i am amazed at the somewhat similar thoughts some americans have towards their BUSH as to what a lot of aussies do towards HOWARD. 1984 is a book worth reading if only to confirm what most of us already know. so HOW did they become to be leaders of our countries?? MONEY and fearing up the people. 911 would not have happened if it was not for the big end of the world. bigbrother is not government, rather money hungry companies in places like west papua, nigeria etc. american and other countries policies have been and always will be why the world will never be a perfect world. however. terror is the same tactic governments instil into their own people. terrorism makes me sick sick sick ,addinfin.

guys guys (perhaps girls), before you all go on a rant here:
http://www.infoworld.com/article/06/...Ngoogle_1.html

Check it out, it clearly states that google has refused to co-operate. They are now in court in a mayor armwrestling contest with the US government.

And use what? Next to google all mayor search engines have already given in to the US government. The only engine that has some balls is being drawn into court because of it.

EDIT: didn't read scuzzman's post