Credit: Marco Piunti / Getty Images The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a U.S. digital rights group, is concerned that Google’s new Desktop search program is a significant privacy risk, BBC News reports.The new Desktop search program allows users to search multiple computers for information or files.For more on Google’s new Desktop search, read New Google Desktop Search Tools.In order to search more than one computer, users allow Google to transfer information or files from one computer to the next. This means that Google possesses the files on its own servers. Google’s release of the new search tools comes amidst the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) ongoing effort to obtain information on the search habits of its users. The DOJ issued subpoenas to a number of different search entities, like America Online, requesting similar information, but Google is the only one that refused. For more background on Google’s DOJ subpoena refusal, read Google Lawsuit to Be Heard in February and Google Subpoena Hearing Postponed.“Coming on the heels of serious consumer concern about government snooping into Google’s search logs, it’s shocking that Google expects its users to now trust it with the contents of their personal computers,” said EFF staff attorney Kevin Bankston. “Unless you configure Google Desktop very carefully, and few people will, Google will have copies of your tax returns, love letters, business records, financial and medical files, and whatever other text-based documents the desktop software can index.” Google has responded to privacy concerns by assuring users that all transferred data will be encrypted and its access restricted. The company also says the data will not be retained for more than 30 days, BBC News reports.“We think this will be a very useful tool, but you will have to give up some of your privacy,” Google’s vice president of search products and user experience, Marissa Mayer said.For more recent action by the EFF, read AT&T Sued for Cooperation in NSA Spying.Don’t forget to keep checking in at our CIO News Alerts page for updated news coverage. Related content brandpost Sponsored by SAP What goes well with Viña Concha y Toro wines? Meat, fish, poultry, and SAP Viña Concha y Toro, a wine producer that distributes to more than 140 countries worldwide, paired its operation with the SAP Business Technology Platform to enhance its operation and product. By Tom Caldecott, SAP Contributor Dec 04, 2023 4 mins Digital Transformation brandpost Sponsored by Azul How to maximize ROI by choosing the right Java partner for your organization Choosing the right Java provider is a critical decision that can have a significant impact on your organization’s success. By asking the right questions and considering the total cost of ownership, you can ensure that you choose the best Java p By Scott Sellers Dec 04, 2023 5 mins Application Management brandpost Sponsored by DataStax Ask yourself: How can genAI put your content to work? Generative AI applications can readily be built against the documents, emails, meeting transcripts, and other content that knowledge workers produce as a matter of course. By Bryan Kirschner Dec 04, 2023 5 mins Machine Learning Artificial Intelligence feature The CIO’s new role: Orchestrator-in-chief CIOs have unique insight into everything that happens in a company. Some are using that insight to take on a more strategic role. By Minda Zetlin Dec 04, 2023 12 mins CIO C-Suite Business IT Alignment Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe