The ACLU, EFF and the Samuelson Clinic are concerned that the amended book settlement filed Friday November 13, 2009 does not address privacy issues that were raised earlier.

One of our core privacy concerns with the Settlement has been that reading records are not properly protected from disclosure to the government and third parties. Readers should be able to use Google Book Search without worrying that the government or a third party is reading over their shoulder. No Settlement should be approved that allows reading records to be disclosed without a properly-issued warrant from law enforcement and court orders from third parties.

Google Book Search should provide protections against disclosure. I should be able to read whatever I want without concern over who might be looking over my shoulder. It should also not track me unless I opt into such a system. I should be able to browse anonymously just as I do in a bookstore or a library. Google does not need my personal information for me to read one of its books.

Google Book Search should also allow me to have control over what I purchase and how that data is used. I should be allowed to delete my records and give my books to anyone, just as in real life, without someone tracking me. Google should also refrain from giving my personal information and book preferences to any credit card processors or third parties. When I pay for anything from Google Book Search, the charge should simply state who charged me and the price, just as any brick-and-mortar bookstore would.

Google also needs to improve its privacy policy. Currently, it is not easy to read and users are easily confused. This leads regular people to shy away from using their services. Until Google addresses all of the privacy and free speech issues over Google Book Search, I won’t be using their services.