---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In 2014, there were about 6,000 searches…"
description: "\"“In 2014, there were about 6,000 searches for the exact phrase “how to kill your girlfriend” and 400 murders of girlfriends. If all of these murderers ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/491/seth-stephens-davidowitz-10761_quote_in-2014-there-were-about-6-000-searches_1452154.jpg"
---

#  In 2014, there were about 6,000 searches for the exact…

![“In 2014, there were about 6,000 searches for the exact phrase “how to kill your girlfriend” and 400 murders of girlfriends. If all of these murderers had made this exact search beforehand, that would mean 1 in 15 people who searched “how to kill your girlfriend” went through with it. Of course…” quote by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/491/seth-stephens-davidowitz-10761_quote_in-2014-there-were-about-6-000-searches_1452154.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/491/seth-stephens-davidowitz-10761_quote_in-2014-there-were-about-6-000-searches_1452154.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/491/seth-stephens-davidowitz-10761_quote_in-2014-there-were-about-6-000-searches_1452154.jpg)

> ““In 2014, there were about 6,000 searches for the exact phrase “how to kill your girlfriend” and 400 murders of girlfriends. If all of these murderers had made this exact search beforehand, that would mean 1 in 15 people who searched “how to kill your girlfriend” went through with it. Of course, many, probably most, people who murdered their girlfriends did not make this exact search. This would mean the true probability that this particular search led to murder is lower, probably a lot lower. But if data scientists could build a model that showed that the threat against a particular individual was, say, 1 in 100, we might want to do something with that information. At the least, the person under threat might have the right to be informed that there is a 1-in-100 chance she will be murdered by a particular person.””

[Seth Stephens-Davidowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-stephens-davidowitz/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote highlights how search queries can indicate violent intent, suggesting predictive models could warn potential victims.

**In simple terms:** Search data may reveal danger, allowing preemptive warnings.

Key Takeaway

Use data to protect at‑risk individuals.

Themes

privacy risk prediction ethics technology violence prevention

Mood

concerned thoughtful cautious

Type

analytical warning ethical

When to use this quote

- law enforcement
- online platforms
- social media monitoring
- personal safety planning

Key Concepts

predictive analytics risk assessment data ethics public safety

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we balance safety with privacy?
- What safeguards prevent misuse of predictive alerts?

A Different Perspective

Reliance on imperfect data may cause false alarms or privacy violations.

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[Girlfriends Murderers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girlfriends-murderers-5225535/) [Kill Girlfriend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kill-girlfriend-530609/) [Murdered Girlfriends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murdered-girlfriends-5225536/) [Murders Girlfriends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murders-girlfriends-5225534/) [Searched Kill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/searched-kill-5225533/)

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