What Search Engines Know About You!

In today's world, it isn't hard for someone to be able to find another's email address or phone number. The improving world of technology makes those things all the more easier and the internet world is no exception. Many people are frightened because of the search engine giant Google because they have handed over pertinent information to the government about their user's search queries and whatever other information that they keep in their stored records.

So what is all the information that major search engine companies, like Google, are storing about you? Actually the information can get quite private. For example, if you sign up with an email address through Google or Yahoo!, then they have your name, address, and even phone number. Furthermore, however, they also retain the information that you put into their search bars. Your IP address is stored and they can even see what websites you are looking at. They even remember your search habits so that they can personalize targeted ads toward you. What happens, though, when all of this information is subpoenaed by the Federal Government? One thing is for sure and that is that terrorists better not use any of the major search engines, like Google. But on a more serious note, Google and other search engine companies explicitly state that they fully comply with the government when they request them to hand over records of search data from consumers.

For the average consumer, however, why should it be fair that the government know all about what you are doing on the internet? Of course if you have nothing to hide then you should not have any reason to worry at all. But the fact remains that the government is looking into your personal life when they have no reason whatsoever to do so. They have no probable cause or anything.

On the other hand, however, the government can do a lot with the type of information that Google, MSN, Yahoo!, and other search engines store. They could look at the types of searches from the public as a whole and even collectively look at the types of websites that are being visited. For example, one issue that the US Federal Government is taking up is the issue of pornography, and they have subpoenaed the major search engines to see exactly how much pornography the general public is getting a hold of. One of their main goals is to help make the internet safer and this type of information would greatly help them.

So should you have anything to worry about when it comes to the government invading your personal life and taking a look at what you are visiting on the World Wide Web? That answer is different for each individual; but generally, if you are not a suspected terrorist and have no connection to a major crime, you should have absolutely nothing to worry about!