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Google "Flu Trends" Raises Privacy Concerns

Posted on November 13, 2008October 24, 2024 by Dissent

From EPIC.org:

Google announced this week a new web tool that may make it possible to detect flu outbreaks before they might otherwise be reported. Google Flu Trends relies on individual search terms, such as “flu symptoms,” provided by Internet users. Google has said that it will only reveal aggregate data, but there are no clear legal or technological privacy safeguards to prevent the disclosure of individual search histories concerning the flu, or related medical concerns, such as “AIDS symptoms,” “ritalin,” or “Paxil.” Privacy and medical groups have urged Google to be more transparent and publish the algorithm on which Flu Trends data is based so that the public can determine whether the privacy safeguards are adequate.

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Category: Health Data

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1 thought on “Google "Flu Trends" Raises Privacy Concerns”

  1. Anonymous says:
    November 13, 2008 at 6:42 am

    If Google makes the drop in numbers, we will see the strength in the real world that has Google.

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