8A
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY MARCH 15,2007
》 ONLINE PRIVACY
Google adopts new policy revisions
Search engine giant Google recently announced a new of security measures that would make it harder to track users. Google has fought government requests for its user records.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
BY MICHAEL LIEDTKE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SAN FRANCISCO - Google Inc. is adopting new privacy measures to make it more difficult to connect online search requests with the people making them a move it believes could prevent showdowns with the government over the often sensitive data.
Under revisions announced late Wednesday, Google promised to wrap a cloak of anonymity around the vast amounts of information that the Mountain View-based company regularly collects about its millions of users around the world.
Google believes it can provide more assurances of privacy by removing key pieces of identifying information from its system every 18 to 24 months.
The timetable is designed to comply with a hodgepodge of laws around the world that dictate how long search engines are supposed to retain user information.
Authorities still could demand to review personal information before Google purges it or take legal action seeking to force the company to keep the data beyond the new time limits.
Nevertheless, Google's additional safeguards mark the first time that a major Internet search engine has
spelled out precisely how long it will hold on data that can reveal intimate details about a person's Web surfing habits.
While Google will still retain reams of information about its users, the changes are supposed to lessen the chances that the company, a government agency or another party will be able to identify the people behind specific search requests.
Privacy experts applauded Google's precautions as a major step in the right direction.
"This is an extremely positive development," said Ari Schwartz, deputy director of the Center for
Democracy and Technology. "It's the type of thing we have been advocating for a number of years."
Google is tightening its privacy standards a year after it became embroiled in a high-profile battle over the control of the user information that it had been stockkilling
While gathering evidence for a case involving online pornography, the U.S. Justice Department subpoenaed the major search engines for lists of search requests made by their users.
While Yahoo Inc., Microsoft Corp's MSN and AOL all complied with parts of the legal demand, Google fought the request to protect its users' privacy.
A federal judge ordered Google to turn over a small sampling of Web addresses contained in its search index, but decided the company didn't have to reveal the search requests sought by the government.
In another demonstration of the privacy risks posed by search engines, Time Warner Inc's AOL last summer released 19 million search requests on the Internet as part of a research project.
Although only sets of numbers were attached to the requests, the information was used to identify some of the people behind the AOL searches.
AOL subsequently apologized for the lapse, which triggered the resignation of its chief technology officer and the firing of two other workers.
Google and its rivals all say they keep information about their users so they can learn more about them as they strive to deliver the most relevant responses.
By purging some of the personal information from its computers, Google warned it might not be as effective at improving some services as it has been in the past. "But we believe the additional privacy provided by the change outweighs the benefit of the data we are losing," Google said.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City, dilled by one NHL team, is dusting itself off and moving on.
without the anchor tenant promised to the voters who approved it.
Penguin snub doesn't phase Kansas City officials
The Pittsburgh Penguins' decision to stay put leaves the Sprint Center, scheduled to open in October as the centerpiece of Kansas City's downtown revitalization, still
But despite their disappointment, local sports officials said that even being considered as the new home for one of the NHLS best teams can only help them land another one.
and the Midwest happy with a team here someday" said Paul McGannon of NHL 21, a two-man group working to bring an NHL team to town for the first time since the Scouts, now the New Jersey Devils, left for Denver in 1976.
"Were happy for the hockey fans in Pittsburgh, but were also ready to make hockey fans in Kansas City
Backers point to the sold-out corporate suites at the Sprint Center and the ownership agreement in
place with San Jose, Calif.-based venture capitalist William "Boots" Del Biagio III.
NHL
ASSOCIATED PRESS
They hope that the strategy Sprint Center management used to woo the Penguins — make a big offer early, then shut up and let things play out in the teams' current home — will pay off in goodwill from league offices.
Harris said schools across the state have overwhelmed the Seneca community with support. Schools are holding fundraisers to send pencils, jump ropes and playground balls for Seneca students.
"It has been a traumatic three days," Harris said. "But I tell you tonight, everybody feels so good."
Superintendent Brian Harris, of Nemaha Valley Unified School District 442, was excited after the meeting.
A special bank account set up to purchase supplies for students
DISASTER
ASSOCIATED PRESS
About 200 people attended a meeting Tuesday night to discuss rebounding from the fire Saturday that destroyed much of the building, which housed 275 students in grades kindergarten through eight. Damage was estimated at more than $5 million.
Town adjusts after fire destroys school
SENECA — Seneca school officials and residents said they are determined to get elementary and junior students back in classes Monday, even though a fire heavily damaged their school building during the weekend.
Alternative locations found for classes
Harris said the district has hired an architectural firm for a new building and is looking for trailers to use for next year's classes. And six classrooms in a newer addition of the current building were saved by firefighters and will be usable for next school year.
Authorities said junior high students will attend classes at Nemaha Valley High School for the rest of the academic year. Elementary school students will go to classes at other locations, including an American Legion building, a former restaurant and the town's library.
State fire investigators have ruled out any possibility of arson in the fire, said Karl McNorton, chief deputy state fire marshal. He said the cause of the fire will be listed as undetermined.
State fire officials and the Nemaha Valley school district are working to make sure all the alternative sites meet code requirements.
in Seneca had received more than $3,000 by Tuesday.
"It if it was by mechanical failure or accident," Harris said. "I think people can live with that a lot easier than if it was arson."
CRIME
Missing Kansas woman's body recovered near river
COFFEYVILLE — The body of a missing southeast Kansas woman was recovered Tuesday, and a suspect was in custody as part of a homicide investigation, Coffeyville police said.
Rachel Dennis, 23, had been missing for more than a week when her body was found Tuesday afternoon in the Verdigris River north of Coffeyville. The Coffeyville
mother was last seen on March 2 when she left a service station with a man.
A family member said a tip led officials to a spot along the river.
Coffeyville police urged owners of land in the rural area to check for signs of Dennis in the days after her disappearance.
An autopsy was scheduled for Wednesday.
Coffeyville police Cmdr. Mike Brown said one suspect is in custody but not charges have been filed. He also said other suspects were being considered.
THU
www
PAC
》 oI
Ash that th
Safe service top priobottom of the Force 5 in Moist Kansas
LII
The humor of Deptair your o it mean How n look so expose involve
U
In l
Kansa
Jim M
for op
Collec
"M
selves
in poo
"Ther
for the
and it
be cir
Un
》 L
U.
Taing f crack
Ures inc conti abyssible n Congg Band
Bithroucoun
Uniting
in ta incalm mou Ame