We have been expecting this to happen for quite some time and now it has. Ever since AOL released the search data of its users, even though the data was pulled by AOL a little while after it release, the damage was done as the file was copied and put up for download across the Internet. Many users have found themselves wondering whether they can trust AOL to protect their privacy. Even though there were no IP addresses in the search logs and the screen names were replaced with unique ID numbers, the experience in many people’s views was still a blatant breach of their privacy.

Even though AOL officially apologized, many consider in not enought. Today a lawsuit has been filed in federal court for the Northern District of California by the law firm of Berman, DeValiero, Pease, Tabacco, Burt & Pucillo of San Francisco. The lawsuit is asking for no less than $1,000 in payment to those affected by the release of the search logs nationwide for violations of federal law. The suit also asks for an additional $4,000 in damages to affected users that are located in California due to the state's own laws. The lawsuit accuses AOL of violating the Electronic Communications Privacy Act in addition to several other California consumer and advertising laws.