I’m not sure if Dave is going to post my response to interesting people, but I figured that I’d post it here. I don’t like how Googlebashing seems to be the in thing. I happen to like Google. Their autolink feature of their toolbar is an option that is not on by default, and yet people complain about it. The most recent one was some complaining that you could do reverse phone numbers in Google. The horror! Here is my response as I sent it to Dave.
From: Patrick Wagstrom <pwagstro@andrew>
To: dave@farber.net
Subject: Re: [IP] google helps burglers
Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2005 10:23:06 -0500
For IP if you'd like.
Dave,
While it might be the hip thing to bash Google for this, they are not
the only web site that has this feature. For example, a quick look
reveals that Verizon has this ability [1] as does
ReversePhoneDirectory.com [2]. A simple search on Google will reveal
many more. So it's not just Google that "helps burglers [sic]".
What many folks should be more worried about is the growing amount of
other records online. For example, in my house hunt in Pittsburgh, I
was able to look up large amounts of information on the various
properties through Allegheny county's property website [3]. This allows
a search not only by address, but also by name. On each property I was
able to get information about the owners real address, the mortgage
holder, tax status, sale price, building condition, a map, and a whole
lot more. Thus, knowing only her last name, I was able to find the
address, photos, and a floorplan of Teresa Heinz Kerry's house out in
Fox Chapel[4].
My assumption (for what it's worth) is that Google has some people
working there who are aware of the privacy implications of such a
system; they do have a way to opt out. When small municipalities
without knowledgable privacy folks start putting this information online
we have a much greater issue.
--Patrick
[1] <a href="http://www22.verizon.com/utilities/reverselookup/">http://www22.verizon.com/utilities/reverselookup/</a>
[2] <a href="http://www.reversephonedirectory.com/">http://www.reversephonedirectory.com/</a>
[3] <a href="http://www2.county.allegheny.pa.us/RealEstate/Search.asp">http://www2.county.allegheny.pa.us/RealEstate/Search.asp</a>
[4] <a href="http://tinyurl.com/52hlm">http://tinyurl.com/52hlm</a>
On Thu, 2005-02-24 at 06:08 -0500, David Farber wrote:
> ------ Forwarded Message
> From: Ed Lazowska <lazowska@cs.washington.edu>
> Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2005 20:28:19 -0800
> To: Dave Farber <dave@farber.net>
> Subject: In case you have not run this on IP yet
>
> [multiple forwardings]
>
> Google has implemented a new feature where you can type someone's
> telephone number into the search bar and hit enter and then you will be
> given a map to their house. Everyone should be aware of this. Note
> that you can have your phone number removed or blocked.
>
> What a great tool for burglars!!
>
> Look up your own number:
>
> 1) Go to: http://www.google.com/
>
> 2) Type your phone number in the search bar (i.e. 555-555-1212) and hit
> enter.
>
> 3) If you want to BLOCK Google from divulging your private information,
> go to the "results" and choose the "phone book removal form."
>
> Google lists several other search engines that provide reverse phone
> number searches. You have to block each one separately.
>
> Removal takes 48-hours.
>
> ------ End of Forwarded Message