AOL released a bunch of its users search session data. A bit of looking (1, 2, 3, data, NYT, commentary) is revealing just how much is in these logs. Why hasn’t AOL yet announced that the person responsible has been fired?

cannot sleep with snoring husband
god will fulfill your hearts desires
online friendships can be very special
friends online can be different in person
men need encouragement
men need a womans love

I’m glad the leak happened; now everyone can see just how sensitive search data is. And valuable, too. Search logs are the private corporate property of companies like AOL to use (or misuse) as they want. Or for the US government to subpoena. Is that the best world for us?

men like women with curvy bodies
recipe for coconut cream pie
how to flirt with a man
signs of skin cancer
a pimple that wont heal
insomnia after hysterectomy

We’re just at the beginning of the technology to mine the database of intentions. Thanks to AOL, now everyone can play along at home and try their hand at analysis.