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# Watching what we search
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/19163/
- Published: 2006-01-20T16:01:08.000Z
- Updated: 2019-02-14T22:34:40.000Z
- Author: openDemocracy Supporters
- Tags: #en, #Migrated, #Import 2026-04-09 18:15

I try and watch what I eat (mainly so as not to miss my mouth). I look both ways before I cross the road. But I would rather not [watch what I search](http://www.ideesdefrance.fr/Afp.html?type=eco&fichier=060120150027.yse5850d&lang=en&ref=opendemocracy.net). Should I? Would we all be just that little bit more safe with hoardes of secret agents scanning our kewords for subversiveness? 

The liberty for security trade-off rarely achieves its declared objective. I am pleased that this week Google have [refused](http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/01/20/technology/web.0120google.php?ref=opendemocracy.net) the San Jose State prosecutor's requests for search data. Child protection strikes a note with many who, understandably, would be willing to do what ever it takes -and lo behold anyone who [falls short](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4630346.stm?ref=opendemocracy.net). But the giving over of search data opens up the field for government control and prosecution for political dissent, as several million Chinese might testify to if they could [read](http://www.guardian.co.uk/china/story/0,7369,1506601,00.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) this website.

[Isabel Hilton](https://www.opendemocracy.net/democracy-china/censorship%5F2817.jsp) and [Becky Hogge](https://www.opendemocracy.net/debates/article.jsp?id=8&debateId=85&articleId=2524)'s openDemocracy articles paint a less than rosy picture of Search Engine complicity in Chinese filtering of the Internet. I just hope Google stand their ground with this one. A test case for the scrutiny of search data, this is something civil libertarians will be keeping a close eye on.