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<DIV><SPAN class=272575617-22012008><FONT face=Arial size=2>In the context of
search engines, which is a completely different issue than
what</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=272575617-22012008><FONT face=Arial size=2>we are talking about
here. Bzzzt - thank you, play again.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=272575617-22012008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=272575617-22012008><FONT face=Arial size=2>The reason that this
is an issue with search engines is that it ties a name to</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=272575617-22012008><FONT face=Arial size=2>what they are
searching for. It is the same issue as if the public library
were</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=272575617-22012008><FONT face=Arial size=2>to record a history
of all books that you checked out and associate it with</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=272575617-22012008><FONT face=Arial size=2>your library card
number, which was then tied to your phone number, and then</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=272575617-22012008><FONT face=Arial size=2>sold the information
to the highest bidder - as Google currently does.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=272575617-22012008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=272575617-22012008><FONT face=Arial size=2>But nobody is out
there arguing that all telephone numbers should be regarded</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=272575617-22012008><FONT face=Arial size=2>as private
information.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=272575617-22012008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=272575617-22012008><FONT face=Arial size=2>I think you need to
re-read the article. You might also consider that this guy
they</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=272575617-22012008><FONT face=Arial size=2>are quoting is
Germany's data-protection comissioner, and that Germany does
not</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=272575617-22012008><FONT face=Arial size=2>have the same Bill
of Rights that guarentees free speech as the US. In
Germany</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=272575617-22012008><FONT face=Arial size=2>you are
</FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=272575617-22012008><FONT face=Arial size=2>not allowed
to say and publish what you please, as you are in the US.
The</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=272575617-22012008><FONT face=Arial size=2>German government is
used to censorship and keeping secrets, and it's
understandable</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=272575617-22012008><FONT face=Arial size=2>that they don't like
it when Google tries shining the light of publicity on
things.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=272575617-22012008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=272575617-22012008><FONT face=Arial size=2>Note this isn't an
argument in favor of Google's position. It's an attempt to
get</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=272575617-22012008><FONT face=Arial size=2>you to take into
account regional predjustices before you go throwing around</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=272575617-22012008><FONT face=Arial size=2>articles with no
contextual highlighting.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=272575617-22012008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=272575617-22012008><FONT face=Arial size=2>In short, this
article isn't authoratative by any means.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=272575617-22012008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=272575617-22012008><FONT face=Arial
size=2>Ted</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid">
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> ppml-bounces@arin.net
[mailto:ppml-bounces@arin.net]<B>On Behalf Of </B>heather
skanks<BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, January 22, 2008 9:51 AM<BR><B>To:</B>
ppml@arin.net<BR><B>Subject:</B> [ppml] News Article on IP addresses as
personal data,according to EU privacy group<BR><BR></FONT></DIV><FONT size=2>
<DIV>"By Aoife White</DIV>Associated Press <BR>Tuesday, January 22, 2008; Page
D01 </FONT>
<P></P>
<P>BRUSSELS -- IP addresses, strings of numbers that identify computers on the
Internet, should generally be regarded as personal information, the head of
the European Union's group of data privacy regulators said Monday."</P>
<P>Full article at:<BR></P><A
href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/21/AR2008012101340.html"
target=_blank>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/21/AR2008012101340.html</A><BR><BR><BR>--Heather<BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>