Google comforts worried search engine users

Google has reassured users that their search information will remain confidential, following on from a recent disclosure gaffe by AOL.

Chief executive Eric Schmidt used the 2,000-strong captive audience at the Search Engine Strategies conference and expo in San Jose as an opportunity to alleviate any fears people have about privacy intrusion.

Earlier this week, red-faced AOL was forced to admit an inadvertent blunder when it released more than 650,000 visitors' search data, destined for its recently launched research site, into the public domain.

A public apology over the "screw up" which involved millions of records, ensued, but the error raised serious questions about the anonymity of the data and whether it was possible to trace the originators' identities.

"Our No. 1 priority with our users is trust," Schmidt said, according to a report from USA Today.

It won't happen. We have systems in place that won't allow anything like that to happen."

Google owns a five per cent share in fellow online giant AOL, so Schmidt was careful not to speak too damningly about the mistake.

"It's a terrible thing. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to release it in the first place," he is reported to have said in The San Jose Mercury News.

This week has been one of great activity for Google. The search giant also signed a $900 million deal with Fox Interactive, part of News Corporation, to be its exclusive search and keyword ad sales provider. The partnership will span Fox's network including sites like MySpace.com.

Google also increased its presence in China by announcing plans to open a new research centre in Shanghai in 2007.

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