NationStates Jolt Archive


Google pushes U.S. states to open public records

Festschrifts
30-04-2007, 20:27
I'm so against this, what do you guys think?


WASHINGTON (AP) -- By providing free consulting and some software, Google is helping state governments make reams of public records that are now unavailable or hard to find online easily accessible to Web surfers.

The Internet search company hopes to eventually persuade federal agencies to employ the same tools -- an effort that excites advocates of open government but worries some consumer-privacy experts.

Google plans to announce Monday that it has already partnered with four states -- Arizona, California, Utah and Virginia -- to remove technical barriers that had prevented its search engine, as well as those of Microsoft and Yahoo, from accessing tens of thousands of public records dealing with education, real estate, health care and the environment.

These newly available records will not be exclusive to the search engines owned by Google, Yahoo and Microsoft.

Patrice McDermott, director of OpenTheGovernment.org, a coalition of more than 65 watchdog groups that advocate greater government openness and accountability, lauded Google's efforts. Since the September 11 attack on the United States, many public agencies have tried to restrict certain data from the Internet due to concerns about national security.

Despite the obvious benefits of this Google initiative for those conducting Web searches, privacy advocates said they are worried about unintended consequences, cautioning that some records may contain personal and confidential information that should not be widely available.

Marc Rotenberg, executive director of the Washington-based Electronic Privacy Information Center, said many public health and financial records should not necessarily be widely available because they often contain citizens' Social Security numbers. Such information should be redacted from records regardless of whether they're viewed online or in person at a government office, he said.

Rotenberg also said Google has a "checkered past" on privacy, noting that the company tracks Internet search users who access government data in order to target ads at them. EPIC recently filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission urging it to investigate Google regarding such activities, as well as its proposed acquisition of online advertising company DoubleClick.

Officials from states partnering with Google are hopeful that the education and tools provided to them by the Mountain View, California-based company will make it easier for average citizens to navigate agency Web sites.

"Unless you had a master's degree in government administration, you probably wouldn't find the actual information you're looking for," said Chris Cummiskey, Arizona's chief information officer.

J.L. Needham, who manages Google's public-sector content partnerships, said at least 70 percent of visitors to government Web sites get there by using commercial search engines. But too often, he said, Web searches do not turn up the information people are looking for simply because government computer systems aren't programmed in a way that allows commercial search engines to access their databases.

Still, if users can't get the information they're looking for, they blame the search engine, not the government, Needham lamented. The remedy, which Google has been working on with state technology officers for roughly six months, is to create virtual roadmaps by which search engines can find the databases that store public records.

"We have a vested interest in ensuring that the results we provide in every area, including government services, are high quality, authoritative and trustworthy," he said. Google has had discussions with several federal agencies, including the departments of Education and Energy, about making their data easier to access, Needham said.

Not all government officials have responded favorably to Google's effort, Needham said, sometimes because they assume Google is trying to sell them a new service.

California's chief information officer, Clark Kelso, said he is concerned about the consumer-privacy issues raised by this initiative and he has directed all state agencies to redact Social Security numbers and other confidential information from documents that will now be available online.
Arthais101
30-04-2007, 20:53
why in the world would you be against this?
SaintB
30-04-2007, 21:05
As long as it is publically accessable, say by going toa court house and asking for it. Then I'm quite fine with and even supportive of that.
Piresa
30-04-2007, 21:07
why in the world would you be against this?

Confidential records, I suppose.
Festschrifts
30-04-2007, 21:21
why in the world would you be against this?


I feel like if people really wanted to know they could go to the office and ask for the record, when you put it online it makes other people's business out there for everyone, even people who aren't American's. We have the right to some privacies. I'm sure this will violate something.
The_pantless_hero
30-04-2007, 21:40
I'm so against this, what do you guys think?
So you are against public records being easily accessible to the public?
Maybe we should make people cross obstacle courses to get into public libraries.
Arthais101
30-04-2007, 21:40
I feel like if people really wanted to know they could go to the office and ask for the record, when you put it online it makes other people's business out there for everyone, even people who aren't American's. We have the right to some privacies. I'm sure this will violate something.

Um...I suggest you read the very first line of the article you posted.

By providing free consulting and some software, Google is helping state governments make reams of public records that are now unavailable or hard to find online easily accessible to Web surfers.

Note the bold. Public records are public. You have no right to privacy on matters of public record.
The_pantless_hero
30-04-2007, 21:40
I feel like if people really wanted to know they could go to the office and ask for the record, when you put it online it makes other people's business out there for everyone, even people who aren't American's. We have the right to some privacies. I'm sure this will violate something.
I don't think you understand the term "public."
Arthais101
30-04-2007, 21:40
So you are against public records being easily accessible to the public?
Maybe we should make people cross obstacle courses to get into public libraries.

And fight off a lion with their bare hands to go to a public park.
Arthais101
30-04-2007, 21:41
Confidential records, I suppose.

once again, confidential records are not a matter of public record.
Free Soviets
30-04-2007, 21:47
And fight off a lion with their bare hands to go to a public park.

well maybe not barehanded, but certainly with nothing more than a rock
The_pantless_hero
30-04-2007, 21:52
Despite the obvious benefits of this Google initiative for those conducting Web searches, privacy advocates said they are worried about unintended consequences, cautioning that some records may contain personal and confidential information that should not be widely available.
Well maybe those records shouldn't be public record then huh? Sounds like a problem with the state's release rules not Google's idea.
Domici
01-05-2007, 03:14
So you are against public records being easily accessible to the public?
Maybe we should make people cross obstacle courses to get into public libraries.

And build crocodile infested moats around voting booths.
NERVUN
01-05-2007, 03:22
A more open government can never hurt, especially when it comes to trying to track down information.
Ilie
01-05-2007, 03:23
So you are against public records being easily accessible to the public?
Maybe we should make people cross obstacle courses to get into public libraries.

Haha! Yes. :p
NERVUN
01-05-2007, 03:23
And build crocodile infested moats around voting booths.
I thought we had that already with the exit polls and all the campainging right up to the border of place.
MrMopar
01-05-2007, 03:36
So you are against public records being easily accessible to the public?
Maybe we should make people cross obstacle courses to get into public libraries.
Zing.