Microsoft: We’ll scale back Data Retention… If Google will.

James Oliver — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 10:00:16 +0000

In a move that will be cautiously welcomed by civil liberties campaigners, Microsoft have indicated that they are willing to scale back their policy on data retention in line with European guidelines which stipulate that search data should not be kept longer than six months. However, they have a condition; they want Google to do the same before they will commit.

Microsoft’s point is that if they simply switched to the six month policy it would result in “A very unlevel playing field,” John Vassallo – vice president, Microsoft E.U. affairs. It’s easy to understand why they think that – at present the company keeps hold of search data for a year and a half before making it anonymous. To go out on a limb and cut that by two thirds would leave them at a severe disadvantage in terms of targeted marketing when they really can’t afford to lose any more ground to Google.

There is no word yet on what Google thinks of the proposal, though in September they did say they would anonymise the IP addresses that are connected with specific searches after nine months.

The forgotten player in all this is Yahoo. They anonymise data after 13 months.

Long-term Data logging by US Sites draws fresh Criticism

Matt Thomas — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:30:09 +0000

In about two months time the European Commission is scheduled to hold a hearing with several US search engines with regard to data retention. However, some within the commission are already annoyed with several search engine providers, most notably, Yahoo, Google and Microsoft. The main source of friction being these providers’ refusal to comply with the EC’s demands that they delete all data collected from users after six months.

The EC is not alone in its annoyance, with services operating within the EU and obeying the law, like Ixquick complaining of being put at a disadvantage. “The value of the information we derive for advertisers is not as great as that of our competitors, who use the extra time to develop more detailed profiles,” claimed Ixquick CEO, Robert Beens recently.

In opposition to the EC, the US Federal Trade Commission, it is suspected, will only issue voluntary guidelines on the matter further muddying the waters in this international industry. EU Telecom and Media Commissioner, Viviane Reding weighed in recently, with a view to levelling the playing field, stating that, “The European regulations are there for everybody.”

The results of the hearing will be awaited eagerly by the industry.

Pay Per Click Advertising and SEOData Retention - Pay Per Click Advertising and SEO

Microsoft: We’ll scale back Data Retention… If Google will.

Long-term Data logging by US Sites draws fresh Criticism