Google Books challenged on privacy, copyright issues

Google’s plan to digitize the world’s libraries will be heard in court tomorrow in Manhattan. The South Bay search giant aims to scan millions of books and make them available online. That concept was challenged by authors and publishers concerned with antitrust and copyright issues. They filed a lawsuit, which was headed for settlement, until privacy watchdogs raised an official objection.

REBECCA JESHKE: Google doesn't need to be evil for evil things to happen. 

Rebecca Jeschke represents the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

JESCHKE: Looking at something like Google Books, its very clearly the way that reading is going, and thats good. That this sort of digital access to large amounts of information is exciting and one of these great developments in 21st century information gathering. We want to make sure that these privacy rights that have long been recognized in the physical world parlay into the digital world. That we don't lose these important privacy gains that we have as the technology changes.

The ACLU and EFF have asked that Google Books increase user control and transparency, delete all user information after 30 days, and, most important, reject all third-party requests for reader information that don't come with a court order.

Thanks to reporter Eric Klein and Spot.Us.