[nycbug-talk] somewhat off-topic

[Isaac Levy]

Hi All,

The topic of keeping log data for internet applications, in various  
contexts and applications, has often been a topic of conversation.

With that, I wanted to point out that perhaps the biggest (?) case of  
log-file mishaps hit the press today:

--
Google must divulge YouTube log (to Viacom)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7488009.stm

"
Leading privacy expert Simon Davies told BBC News that the privacy of  
millions of YouTube users was threatened.

He said: "The chickens have come home to roost for Google.  Their  
arrogance and refusal to listen to friendly advice has resulted in the  
privacy of tens of millions being placed under threat."
Mr Davies said privacy campaigners had warned Google for years that IP  
addresses were personally identifiable information.
Google pledged last year to anonymise IP addresses for search  
information but it has said nothing about YouTube data.
"


--
Also, the EFF notes:
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/07/viacoms-statement-youtube-user-data-controversy


--
With that, however, it seems to me that the value of simply seeing the  
data is quantifiably gigantic to Viacom, marketing statistics worth  
gold...  The privacy issues seem like a red herring, to me.

Regardless, from any angle- it's a case worth following with regard to  
the precedence it sets, IMHO.

Best,
.ike