What you choose to read says a lot about who you are, what you value, and what you believe. That’s why libraries and the ACLU have long defended the privacy of readers.
But protecting reader privacy rights in the digital era is tough.
In the near future, Google is planning to dramatically expand its book service, Google Book Search. The good news is that millions of books will be available for browsing and reading online. The bad news is that Google may be leaving reader privacy behind.
Without strong privacy protections, all of your browsing and reading history may be collected, tracked, and turned over to the government or third parties without your knowledge or consent.
The ACLU’s Northern California affiliate is working with the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the Samuelson Clinic at UC-Berkeley to persuade Google to create strong ready privacy protections for its new service.
Librarians are involved in this issue through the American Library Association. The ALA recently filed comments to the judge who is reviewing a settlement reached among authors, publishers, and Google concerning the new service. The ALA is concerned about privacy, access, and the settlement`s effect on competition and pricing. Follow this link to an ALA news release on its filing.
Have a moment to stand up for privacy? Send an e-mail to Google and say you want protections for your freedom to read privately. You should be able to read anything from politics to health without worrying that someone is looking over your shoulder. Demand that Google not stockpile and share information about your reading habits.
Without such protections, Google Book Search could become a one-stop shop for government fishing expeditions into the reading habits of Americans.
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