Baidu Uses Map Searches to Predict When Crowds Will Get Out of Control

China's leading Internet search company, Baidu, says that data collected from its customers could be used to predict and preëmpt potentially deadly crowd gatherings in the real world. Baidu has an incredible amount of data to mine. Out of a total population of 1.35 billion in China, more than 657 million people use its services. The Baidu research also highlights how the digital trails left by Internet users can be used to understand city dynamics. Baidu's data is already being used in China to show city planners where to place transportation, facilities, or shops. However, some experts worry that such data mining might also help the government keep an eye out for social unrest.