Google Flu & Patient Privacy Information

December 18th, 2008 | by caprice |

Recently, Google has started providing the federal government with information about Internet searches regarding influenza and pneumonia. The presumption is that the user may be concerned about a possible infection. That is a crude method of trying to tract infectious outbreaks, or epidemiology. True epidemiology is conducted by capturing real data; Internet research volume does not necessarily reflect a user infection. Nonetheless, Google states that their Google Flu search data can help determine outbreaks faster because the epidemiology studies have a lag time of 1-2 weeks; furthermore, they state that data submitted is de-identified per their information page at http://www.google.org/about/flutrends/how.html which also documents retrospective alignment with CDC data.

Internet surveillence and reporting may represent another invasion of indiviual privacy rights. Is this practice for the greater good - does it have a normative value for our society? If you would like more information about what privacy rights exist in your state, visit the Patient Rrivacy Rights website at http://www.patientprivacyrights.org/site/PageServer?pagename=StateLaws_Landing. At this site, you can also sign a petition to “take your health care data off the market” under the Consumer Tab or directly via http://www.patientprivacyrights.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Campaign_for_Prescription_Privacy.