Google's newest search tool raises privacy concerns

Internet search giant Google, which raised eyebrows when it fought the Department of Justice's attempts to monitor personal search queries, today unveils a new desktop search tool that accesses more private records than ever -- of those who choose to use it.

Google Desktop 3, the latest version of software that helps users find files on personal computers, has a new feature that can track data from multiple PCs. To do that, it copies personal text files to Google servers, which eventually route them back to the PCs. Previous versions merely indexed files, without storing copies at Google.

Google says the update aims to make finding and sharing information even simpler. "Too many people are working across multiple computers now," says Google Vice President Marissa Mayer. "This makes their lives easier."

Consumers crave such portability, says Allen Weiner, an analyst at market-tracker Gartner.

But online privacy advocacy group Electronic ...