LymeNet Flash: Spying on Lyme Patients Using Google Searches

This is topic Spying on Lyme Patients Using Google Searches in forum General Support at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :

This doesn't sound good at all... and it is from the NOT friends of ours in Boston.

They think spying on people who are looking for Lyme information by using our Google searches, then controlling the information we get back is a good thing.

QUOTE- "Importantly, using web search data allows us not only to assess the incidence of the disease, but also to examine the appropriateness of treatments subsequently searched for by the users."

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32047861

[cussing]

Posted by Bartenderbonnie (Member # 49177) on :

Wow Tincup, thank you.

Open acess to article;
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41746-020-0222-x

"Our present study, by design, makes it impossible to link web search data from electronic health records. HOWEVER we recognize that such data could make our findings more comprehensive. "

"FURTHER STUDIES COULD CONSIDER WAYS TO VALIDATE ONLINE SIGNALS USING DATA FROM ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS TO BETTER ESTIMATE DISEASE INCIDENCE AND IDENIFY POSSIBLE CASES OF MISDIAGNOSIS."

It is illegal to divulge electronic health records and Protected Health Information (PHI) of patients according to the Heath Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA).

https://www.hipaajournal.com/what-are-the-penalties-for-hipaa-violations-7096/

CRIMINAL PENALITIES FOR HIPPA VIOLATIONS;

Tier 3 Obtaining Protected Health Information(PHI) for personal gain or malicious intent - up to 10 years in jail

Tier 4. Violation of HIPPA rules constituting willful negect - minimum fine of 50,000 dollars per violation.

Your state's Attoney General have the authority to hold HIPPA entities accountable for data breaches. Contact info;

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/find-a-state-attorney-general-office-3542885

Justice;
https://www.thefirstepidemic.com/lyme-lawsuit

Posted by Rumigirl (Member # 15091) on :

People wanting to avoid such encroachment on their web searches, etc. can use other search engines that don't track people, like duck duck go. I use them.

Which doesn't speak to this specifically, but I feel that we need every help we can get to get out of the clutches of those out to get every ounce of our data/info. It's really bad totally aside from TBD's, let alone adding that into the mix.

When I check the cookies in my browser after even just a couple of minutes on the computer, there are tons of them!! From google, facebook (I'm not on it), amazon, and tons more. Disgusting. We're the product.