Slashdot posted a blurb about a Raleigh, NC WRAL.com news article detailing how a Google search has been used in a criminal case. Apparently, the defendent searched Google for the words “neck”, “snap”, “break”, and “hold” before the death of his wife. The evidence was found on the defendent’s computer after a search of his home.

The slashdot blogger asks questions such as: “Should police be able to search through your search history for “questionable” searches before you’ve been arrested for a crime, and what effect would this have on the health of society?”

It seems to me that the debate here is about the confidentiality of your online activities and whether the lack thereof would compromise the health of society. Personally, I believe that, with probable cause and a warrant, Google searches and search histories are fair game. It seems no different than rifling through your videotapes, mail, and magazines to see what you’ve been reading about lately. If all of these media are admissible, I don’t see why Google searches wouldn’t be. The fact that it is in digital form and easily accessible would seem irrelevant.

As privacy researchers, we are interested in protecting the rights of individuals. However, this must be tempered with common sense and an overarching goal of benefiting society. In this case, it seems that this particular invasion of privacy is legal and probably just.

Read more about the article and commentary here.