An Analysis of Google Log Retention Policies

2011. The Journal of Privacy and Confidentiality 3(1), 3-26

24 Pages Posted: 20 Feb 2015

See all articles by Vincent Toubiana

Vincent Toubiana

Commission Nationale de L'informatique et des Libertés (CNIL)

Helen Nissenbaum

Cornell Tech NYC; Cornell Tech

Date Written: 2011

Abstract

To preserve search log data utility, Google groups search queries in log bundles by deleting the last octet of logged IP address. Because these bundles still contain identifying information, part of these search logs can be de-anonymized [27]. Without an external audit of these search logs, it is currently impossible to evaluate their robustness against de-anonymizing attacks. In this paper, we leverage log retention policy ambiguities to show that quasi-identifiers could be stored in sanitized search query logs and could help to de-anonymize user searches. This paper refers to Google Search and Google Suggest log retention policies and shows that even with the highest degree of anonymization that Google offers, one could separate user queries with a high granularity. Because Google Suggest is queried every time a user types a character in the Google Chrome navigation box, the privacy of Chrome users could be compromised with respect to their browsing histories. Such ambiguities within log retention policies are critical and should be addressed, as anonymized logs could be shared with third parties without prior user consent.

Keywords: search engines, google, privacy, privacy law, anonymization, cyberlaw, search logs

Suggested Citation

Toubiana, Vincent and Nissenbaum, Helen F., An Analysis of Google Log Retention Policies (2011). 2011. The Journal of Privacy and Confidentiality 3(1), 3-26, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2567072

Vincent Toubiana

Commission Nationale de L'informatique et des Libertés (CNIL) ( email )

Helen F. Nissenbaum (Contact Author)

Cornell Tech NYC ( email )

2 W Loop Rd
New York, NY 10044
United States

Cornell Tech ( email )

2 W Loop Rd
New York, NY 10044
United States

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