3 ms·

why is using search data to trade illegal?

• jrockway 15y ago
  Why is using material non-public information to trade illegal? I don't know, I didn't write the law.
  • moe 15y ago
    But everything in google's search-index is public?
    • angusgr 15y ago
      ... but not the interactions of google's users with google's services.
      • moe 15y ago
        That's right but how can it be illegal for them to mine their own data? I see it becoming illegal the moment they start looking at my data (e.g. the contents of a private Google doc). But the index of their public search engine consists of public data to begin with. Likewise by entering a phrase into their search box I'm telling them "find this for me". Why should it be illegal for google to mine this data just like Walmart mines the customer requests for barbie dolls? There's obviously a fine line as google juggles with private (e.g. google docs) and public data. But the question as I understood it was about the public portion of their data.
  • herval 15y ago
    search results (and open stuff that google crawls from sites) is PUBLIC... Using INSIDE information (e.g. if you work at a company, therefore having access to undisclosed info) is one thing, but using what's freely on the net? That's what ALL investors do anyway (and it's obviously legal)