Comments on: First person identified from AOL Data: Thelma Arnold http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/ Startup and Technology News Sat, 11 Oct 2008 22:38:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Techcrunch » Blog Archive » Heads Roll At AOL, Including CTO http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-149154 Techcrunch » Blog Archive » Heads Roll At AOL, Including CTO Mon, 21 Aug 2006 23:15:50 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-149154 [...] The heads are rolling at AOL over the recent search engine data clusterfuck (see here, here, here and here). [...] [...] The heads are rolling at AOL over the recent search engine data clusterfuck (see here, here, here and here). [...]

]]> By: Geek and the Freak Blog » What Do You Search For? http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-132645 Geek and the Freak Blog » What Do You Search For? Fri, 11 Aug 2006 18:04:18 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-132645 [...] First person identified from AOL data: Thelma Arnold - TechCrunch [...] [...] First person identified from AOL data: Thelma Arnold - TechCrunch [...]

]]> By: max http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-132281 max Fri, 11 Aug 2006 10:55:10 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-132281 There's a website to analyze and duscuss particular AOL users: http://aol.zanoza.lv/ "My neighbour is killing cats": http://aol.zanoza.lv/user/723190 "ways to kill yourself": http://aol.zanoza.lv/user/9486162 "wife killer": http://aol.zanoza.lv/user/17556639 A Face Is Exposed for AOL Searcher No. 4417749: http://aol.zanoza.lv/user/4417749 There’s a website to analyze and duscuss particular AOL users: http://aol.zanoza.lv/

“My neighbour is killing cats”: http://aol.zanoza.lv/user/723190
“ways to kill yourself”: http://aol.zanoza.lv/user/9486162
“wife killer”: http://aol.zanoza.lv/user/17556639

A Face Is Exposed for AOL Searcher No. 4417749: http://aol.zanoza.lv/user/4417749

]]> By: Corvillus » Blog Archive » AOL search ID 4417749 identified http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-131133 Corvillus » Blog Archive » AOL search ID 4417749 identified Thu, 10 Aug 2006 14:56:10 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-131133 [...] Read More: A Face Is Exposed for AOL Searcher No. 4417749 - New York Times [via TechCrunch] [...] [...] Read More: A Face Is Exposed for AOL Searcher No. 4417749 - New York Times [via TechCrunch] [...]

]]> By: Bob Boydston http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-130273 Bob Boydston Thu, 10 Aug 2006 00:51:39 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-130273 One last thing. Michael, you did the right thing in reporting on this and so did the NY Times taking the information and proving that the data was too detailed. Those who would blame you for reporting this are mixed up on who to blame. Those blame lies squarely on the shoulders of AOL. You don't blame the messenger. This will not end soon for AOL and deservedly so! One last thing.

Michael, you did the right thing in reporting on this and so did the NY Times taking the information and proving that the data was too detailed.

Those who would blame you for reporting this are mixed up on who to blame. Those blame lies squarely on the shoulders of AOL. You don’t blame the messenger.

This will not end soon for AOL and deservedly so!

]]> By: Bugs + Fixes » AOL Release Detailed Information on Purpose http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-130217 Bugs + Fixes » AOL Release Detailed Information on Purpose Thu, 10 Aug 2006 00:03:48 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-130217 [...] Read on.. [...] [...] Read on.. [...]

]]> By: Bob Boydston http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-130205 Bob Boydston Wed, 09 Aug 2006 23:38:58 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-130205 I’m doubly appalled. First from the obnoxious sexist and age discriminatory remarks left by some of the commentators in this section and second by the egregious acts by AOL! I guess most are not simply OUTRAGED by this callous act by AOL! How DARE them! How could they release such information without the consent or knowledge of those involved! That someone's privacy has been needlessly taken away is appalling. Michael thanks for the breaking news! I’m doubly appalled. First from the obnoxious sexist and age discriminatory remarks left by some of the commentators in this section and second by the egregious acts by AOL!

I guess most are not simply OUTRAGED by this callous act by AOL! How DARE them! How could they release such information without the consent or knowledge of those involved!

That someone’s privacy has been needlessly taken away is appalling.

Michael thanks for the breaking news!

]]> By: Brya http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-130139 Brya Wed, 09 Aug 2006 22:05:41 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-130139 "# jbus August 8th, 2006 at 10:19 pm @ RedWillow It sounds like she willfully cooperated with this story. I’m sure she was contacted about it first and gave her approval. It’s important that people realize this data can be personally identifiable. I’m sure Mrs. Arnold realizes that and that’s why she agreed to be interviewed." Sure jbus, just like she unwillingly cooperated when AOL passed along her data. “# jbus

August 8th, 2006 at 10:19 pm

@ RedWillow

It sounds like she willfully cooperated with this story. I’m sure she was contacted about it first and gave her approval.

It’s important that people realize this data can be personally identifiable. I’m sure Mrs. Arnold realizes that and that’s why she agreed to be interviewed.”

Sure jbus, just like she unwillingly cooperated when AOL passed along her data.

]]> By: NJG from NYC http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-130092 NJG from NYC Wed, 09 Aug 2006 21:35:45 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-130092 More fallout from the AOL leak here, and this time it involves people losing their jobs: http://discuss.joelonsoftware.com/default.asp?biz.5.374239.4 More fallout from the AOL leak here, and this time it involves people losing their jobs:

http://discuss.joelonsoftware......5.374239.4

]]> By: The Messaging Times http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-130075 The Messaging Times Wed, 09 Aug 2006 21:08:24 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-130075 <strong>AOL in a Sticky Search Mess...</strong> AOL EMBARRASSMENT and condemnation escalated even further today when the first person from the laundry list of search data that they published was identified and interviewed by The New York Times. Thelma Arnold (62) used AOL to search for the following... AOL in a Sticky Search Mess…

AOL EMBARRASSMENT and condemnation escalated even further today when the first person from the laundry list of search data that they published was identified and interviewed by The New York Times. Thelma Arnold (62) used AOL to search for the following…

]]> By: Gautam http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-129979 Gautam Wed, 09 Aug 2006 19:48:38 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-129979 Is there a big law suit coming? Is there a big law suit coming?

]]> By: Ben http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-129941 Ben Wed, 09 Aug 2006 19:20:52 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-129941 We spent some time checking this out to see what we could learn about how consumers were ending up on MerchantCircle with local searches. It was useful to see what else they were doing online. In a good majority of the cases, we could where they were clearly looking to investigate an category of merchants in thier town (motorcycle shops or coffee shops) and in others it was clear they were researching broadly shopping in a town. Mark (former Yahoo) lays out some of the concerns about the privacy issues as well as what he found related to MerchantCircle, here. http://kram.hullapalooza.com/2006/08/aols-search-results-privacy-debacle.html We spent some time checking this out to see what we could learn about how consumers were ending up on MerchantCircle with local searches. It was useful to see what else they were doing online. In a good majority of the cases, we could where they were clearly looking to investigate an category of merchants in thier town (motorcycle shops or coffee shops) and in others it was clear they were researching broadly shopping in a town. Mark (former Yahoo) lays out some of the concerns about the privacy issues as well as what he found related to MerchantCircle, here.

http://kram.hullapalooza.com/2.....bacle.html

]]> By: Mike Hunt http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-129893 Mike Hunt Wed, 09 Aug 2006 18:51:10 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-129893 @Bob..."Dewey, Cheetum, and Howe" is a joke, my friend. But, to your point..I imagine there are some lawyers foaming at the mouth right now to cash in on this. Man..just when AOL had some signs of intelligent life. @Bob…”Dewey, Cheetum, and Howe” is a joke, my friend. But, to your point..I imagine there are some lawyers foaming at the mouth right now to cash in on this. Man..just when AOL had some signs of intelligent life.

]]> By: RA http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-129874 RA Wed, 09 Aug 2006 18:40:41 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-129874 Not that I'm supporting the use of this woman's identity, I agree, that was going too far. I think the times did it A. to put the onus on AOL to take some sort of drastic action, and B. to kick the whole issue up to the next level of escalation. Now it's AOL's turn to counterattack. Not that I’m supporting the use of this woman’s identity, I agree, that was going too far. I think the times did it A. to put the onus on AOL to take some sort of drastic action, and B. to kick the whole issue up to the next level of escalation. Now it’s AOL’s turn to counterattack.

]]> By: Bob http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-129872 Bob Wed, 09 Aug 2006 18:40:08 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-129872 Great. Now we have ambulance chasers scouring the board. What next? Great. Now we have ambulance chasers scouring the board.

What next?

]]> By: Dewey, Cheetum & Howe http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-129834 Dewey, Cheetum & Howe Wed, 09 Aug 2006 18:19:05 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-129834 My name is Howard Howe and I am a partner at the prominent New York law firm of Dewey, Cheetum & Howe LLP. We are currently looking for individuals whose search records have been exposed by AOL in preparation for a class action lawsuit against AOL. If you believe that your search records have been compromised, you may be entitled to monetary damages. If it imperative that you contact my firm immediately. Please do a search on AOL for "dewey cheetum howe AOL lawsuit" and we will contact you ASAP. My name is Howard Howe and I am a partner at the prominent New York law firm of Dewey, Cheetum & Howe LLP. We are currently looking for individuals whose search records have been exposed by AOL in preparation for a class action lawsuit against AOL. If you believe that your search records have been compromised, you may be entitled to monetary damages. If it imperative that you contact my firm immediately. Please do a search on AOL for “dewey cheetum howe AOL lawsuit” and we will contact you ASAP.

]]> By: Brandon http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-129803 Brandon Wed, 09 Aug 2006 17:54:30 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-129803 I'm with Red Willow, Tech and Brett. Aside from AOL's utter stupidity, the NY Times lives in its own world and plays by its own rules and enjoys its own intellectual ethics. (I'm also disappointed that Techcrunch would follow along and re-post her information.) The reporter wanted to "make the story personal". And yes, I'm sure they got her naive permission to run the story to get the word out. So, Thelma, your reward for assisting the NY Times in further publicizing this story to educate their readers on AOL's terrible decision...is that YOU are spotlighted, including specific, possibly embarrasing searches you performed and your response to questions about why you searched them. Are these two reporters that awful at telling a story without stealing someone's dignity? I’m with Red Willow, Tech and Brett.

Aside from AOL’s utter stupidity, the NY Times lives in its own world and plays by its own rules and enjoys its own intellectual ethics. (I’m also disappointed that Techcrunch would follow along and re-post her information.)

The reporter wanted to “make the story personal”. And yes, I’m sure they got her naive permission to run the story to get the word out.

So, Thelma, your reward for assisting the NY Times in further publicizing this story to educate their readers on AOL’s terrible decision…is that YOU are spotlighted, including specific, possibly embarrasing searches you performed and your response to questions about why you searched them.

Are these two reporters that awful at telling a story without stealing someone’s dignity?

]]> By: dave http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-129783 dave Wed, 09 Aug 2006 17:25:24 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-129783 there's something else missing from that data set too...anybody notice it? check out this blurb from yesterday: http://digbig.com/4mgry there’s something else missing from that data set too…anybody notice it? check out this blurb from yesterday: http://digbig.com/4mgry

]]> By: Don Wilson http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-129780 Don Wilson Wed, 09 Aug 2006 17:19:13 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-129780 What do you guys think AOL could do about this now? Obviously they've learned their lesson. Why this is up on TechCrunch? Not too sure. What do you guys think AOL could do about this now? Obviously they’ve learned their lesson.

Why this is up on TechCrunch? Not too sure.

]]> By: droppedd http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-129729 droppedd Wed, 09 Aug 2006 16:53:47 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-129729 i actually positively identified my dad in the search results, and he confirmed it. so you can mark that confirmed #2. i actually positively identified my dad in the search results, and he confirmed it. so you can mark that confirmed #2.

]]> By: Calvin http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-129728 Calvin Wed, 09 Aug 2006 16:53:22 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-129728 This is why Google Desktop and Search History is a BAD IDEA. Delete your cookies often, people. And above all, do not install any search toolbars. This is why Google Desktop and Search History is a BAD IDEA.

Delete your cookies often, people. And above all, do not install any search toolbars.

]]> By: Tech http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-129723 Tech Wed, 09 Aug 2006 16:46:34 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-129723 I can't beleive they published her name and searches... I guess the NYT asked her for permission as the seaches were rather revealing. I can’t beleive they published her name and searches… I guess the NYT asked her for permission as the seaches were rather revealing.

]]> By: Brett http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-129721 Brett Wed, 09 Aug 2006 16:44:19 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-129721 I think that it was very irresponsible of NYTimes (and Techcrunch) to post the id numer and name and etc etc of this woman. Even if NYTimes did find out one of people, shouldn't they state that they IDed someone and then not release their info? I think that it was very irresponsible of NYTimes (and Techcrunch) to post the id numer and name and etc etc of this woman. Even if NYTimes did find out one of people, shouldn’t they state that they IDed someone and then not release their info?

]]> By: alex http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-129719 alex Wed, 09 Aug 2006 16:40:17 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-129719 do i smell a huge lawsuit coming on, time to short twx do i smell a huge lawsuit coming on, time to short twx

]]> By: Chubbs http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-129695 Chubbs Wed, 09 Aug 2006 16:22:24 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/09/first-person-identified-from-aol-data-thelma-arnold/#comment-129695 Kudos to the community for exposing AOL's stupidity; however, was it really necessary to keep on publishing the woman's name?! Shame on you, New York Times! Kudos to the community for exposing AOL’s stupidity; however, was it really necessary to keep on publishing the woman’s name?! Shame on you, New York Times!

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