Google Copies Everything

(Original image from: the i spot.com)
On the EFF website I just read a post titled: Google Copies Your Hard Drive that was very disturbing. It seems that Google has just released a desktop software that allows copies of documents on your hard drive to be viewed by the public in their searches for information. The default scheme of this software enables such searching, and the concern is that most consumers will not know to reconfigure the software to preclude such use. This presents major privacy issues. For one thing, information that used to require a search warrant to find, now can be had through the simpler process of subpoena. Also, this changes the peeking that the government or hackers can do to get to your personal information. Ultimately though, I am disturbed by the copyright infringment possibilities.

What does this mean for copyright? I have a lot of writings on my hard drive of unpublished works that I am currently arranging to put into a book. Google search would allow a possible appropriator to search the text of my work and take it for himself. Also, the simple act of installing Google software would subject my work to unauthorized copying. Google would defend itself by saying that I authorized the copying by agreeing to the terms of the software, and technically they'd be right. So the moral of the story is to make sure you know what your default configurations subject you to. It is not likely that the open door of information will be closed anytime soon, despite bills being proposed in Congress that would require websites to delete information after legitimate business purposes have been served. So be proactive and take the self-help measures that you can to protect your work and your privacy.