The World Privacy Forum has filed a U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) complaint against AOL, saying the company violated its own privacy policy by releasing the search records from hundreds of thousands of its members.The World Privacy Forum, a privacy advocacy group, asked the FTC to investigate AOL’s release of search records this year, to fine AOL a “substantial” amount of money and to order AOL to provide free credit counseling to any members who had their personal data exposed in AOL’s release of the search records.The World Privacy Forum’s complaint, filed Wednesday, came two days after the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a privacy and civil liberties advocacy group, filed a similar complaint with the FTC. 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 AOL’s release of search queries is “in violation of consumer expectations for the maintenance, use, and disclosure of personal information,” the World Privacy Forum said in its complaint. An AOL spokesman wasn’t immediately available for comment Thursday. Earlier in the week, AOL declined to comment on the EFF complaint, but said AOL can’t notify the affected users because there is no way for it to identify the accounts involved.The EFF and World Privacy Forum complaints came after the disclosure last week that AOL had made available on its AOL Research website about 20 million search records from about 658,000 of its members. AOL didn’t disclose the members’ names, but it categorized each person’s records with a unique number, making it possible to see what each individual searched for. AOL acknowledged the release was a lapse in judgement and removed the data file from its website, but many websites published the records. Some of the records included credit card, telephone and Social Security numbers, as well as birth dates, full names and addresses. AOL’s release of the search records “comprise a pattern of personal data activities contravening the AOL privacy policy,” the World Privacy Forum said in its complaint.-Grant Gross, IDG News Service (Washington Bureau)Related Link: AOL Could Face FTC Probe Over Search-Record DisclosureCheck out our CIO News Alerts and Tech Informer pages for more updated news coverage. Related content feature 10 digital transformation questions every CIO must answer Impactful DX requires a business-centric approach supported by the right skills, culture, and strategy. Here’s how to assess whether your digital journey is on the path to success. By Mary K. Pratt Sep 25, 2023 12 mins Digital Transformation IT Strategy IT Leadership feature Rockwell Automation makes shift to ‘as-a-service’ model Facing increasing competition from cloud hypervisors that see manufacturing as prime for disruption, the industrial automation giant has undertaken a major transformation to add subscription software services to its core business. By Paula Rooney Sep 25, 2023 6 mins Manufacturing Industry Digital Transformation IT Strategy brandpost Fireside Chat between Tata Communications and Tata Realty: 5 ways how Technology bridges the CX perception gap By Tata Communications Sep 24, 2023 9 mins Emerging Technology feature Mastercard preps for the post-quantum cybersecurity threat A cryptographically relevant quantum computer will put everyday online transactions at risk. Mastercard is preparing for such an eventuality — today. By Poornima Apte Sep 22, 2023 6 mins CIO 100 Quantum Computing Data and Information Security 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