[IP] Message re AOL search data release blocked by AOL

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Lauren Weinstein <lauren@vortex.com>
Date: August 7, 2006 12:43:34 PM EDT
To: dave@farber.net
Cc: lauren@vortex.com
Subject: Message re AOL search data release blocked by AOL


Dave,

Anyone who tries to forward to an AOL user the message from earlier
today discussing AOL's release of 500K users' search query data may
be in for a surprise.

At least in my experiments just now, AOL rejects the message since
one of the referenced URLs contains a numeric IP address rather
than a domain address.

Ironic, isn't it?  AOL "protects" users by blocking messages with IP
addresses in URLs (can such addresses be suspect?  Yeah, but they
can easily be legit, too) -- yet they happily release the most
private aspects of users' search activities.

It's like a Fellini movie over there, but much less amusing.

--Lauren--
Lauren Weinstein
lauren@vortex.com or lauren@pfir.org
Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800
http://www.pfir.org/lauren
Co-Founder, PFIR
   - People For Internet Responsibility - http://www.pfir.org
Co-Founder, IOIC
   - International Open Internet Coalition - http://www.ioic.net
Moderator, PRIVACY Forum - http://www.vortex.com
Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
Lauren's Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com
DayThink: http://daythink.vortex.com



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