Oct 26, 2010 – Soon after Google was targeted for embedding search queries in URL pages, a new class action suit came into the light. The lawsuit seeks pecuniary damages and a cease and desist order against the alleged sharing of Google searches with 3^rd parties.

Despite Google’s constant denial of revealing users’ information to third parties, the complaint asserts that the information is revealed by the ‘referrer’. According to the complaint filed against Google, the referrer data is used by web analyzers for referring to or knowing how the traffic came to their web identity. It happens so, when the user types in certain keywords for searching on Google and follows any of the URLs listed on the SERPs, the viewed page gets information on the words that the user carried out research on. Now under this purview, since the user might be searching for anything be it technical information, recreation or just anything, the information is going to be revealed to the pages Google search leads him/her to.

Since the searches may contain any word, which could be susceptible to revealing the identity of the individual or may contain words that point to the user, it is likely to cause a big threat to the identity of the user. It may even lead to ID theft in case the information is viewed by some miscreants.

While Google has been claiming of ensuring the privacy of the searches conducted via its search engine, this lawsuit has brought to light the dark side of the searches that is the fear of ID theft. With millions and trillions of Internet users mostly trusting Google for conducting searches – from simplest such as finding a bar in their vicinity to complicated such as reading about some medical procedures, scientific invention or banking information, this lawsuit has raised a Big Question Mark on the privacy and confidentiality aspect of this prominent search engine.

Though Google has refused to comment on the news pertaining to the lawsuit, the fraternity of Google searchers and Internet users is keenly watching out the developments going on in this regard.

Written by SynapseInteractive Copywriting Team.