Search Sites Unveil Privacy Plans

Klaidas sends us word of BBC coverage of action on privacy by the top four search sites. Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, and Ask have introduced plans to reduce the data they store and how long they store it. From the article: "The rush to improve privacy policies was started by Google in March when it announced it would start deleting the final parts of the individual address it collects from each user's computer after 18 months... Microsoft is expected to make a similar announcement to separate the identifying address and other data from searches after 18 months. The information will be held for longer if users request it. Yahoo said it would delete identifying addresses and cookies after 13 months... Ask is taking the most radical step by unveiling plans for a tool called AskEraser which, it claims, will let people tune whether data is gathered about them on a search-by-search basis."

Wasn't it the EU?

[ThatsNotPudding]

"The rush to improve privacy policies was started by Google in March when it announced it would start deleting the final parts of the individual address it collects from each user's computer after 18 months..."

Umm, wasn't it because the EU forced Google to change their policies?

I certainly hope the AskEraser turns out to be solid as I would switch for good, but I'm prepared to be disappointed.

Re:Wasn't it the EU?

[TubeSteak]

I certainly hope the AskEraser turns out to be solid as I would switch for good, but I'm prepared to be disappointed.

AskEraser seems like the only one that will actually accomplish its goal.

They're really going to throw away your search information, not just 'anonymize' it.

Everyone else is hedging their bet with weasel words like "legally compelled to do so." Which means the government can wave some legal papers around and your data is retained indefinitely.

Re:

[ushering05401]

"Which means the government can wave some legal papers around and your data is retained indefinitely."

No paper waving required... Wording and default settings are all that is needed to confuse most users.

Wording example: Would you like your search results optimized to your preferences = you agreed to let us have the data forever.

Default example: Any user can choose not to request their data be stored by clicking a box on a settings screen indicating that they are NOT requesting the search company to store t

Re:

[bdjacobson]

Well, it already is, as I learned recently [pbs.org]. So this means nothing to me. What I'm interested in now is 100% encrypted communication between search servers. If they did that, and then allowed me to 100% anonymize my search data (using a freely viewiable, verifiably applied to all servers open source solution), then that would be an act of good faith sufficient for me to say "ok, keep the data, I can see with my own eyes that it is truly anonymized; any company willing to go that far can keep it in my book".

U

Another layer of security?

[transiency]

Jul 23 19:11:42.637 [notice] Tor v0.1.1.26. This is experimental software. Do not rely on it for strong anonymity.

It appears that these new search engine privacy tools will add another layer of security?

Re:

[bombastinator]

I'm in agreement. If ask implements this and it works as described it is going to become my new desktop accessory. Right now you can do the job with www.scroogle.com, but it has some small disadvantages.

Re:

[Ant P.]

Maybe it's not the EU, maybe it's just that they're sick of catering to the US government's "privacy" policy.

Re:

[sinkemlow]

The sad part is this concept is described as "radical" in the summary.

Re:

[AlHunt]

ixquick.com claims they only store data for 2 weeks. Set Firefox to delete all cookies every time it shuts down. It's the best I've come up with quick and easy.

Re:

[AlHunt]

Really? "Flamebait"? Pray tell, how?

OK - that's the front end

[no-body]

Any backdoor data rention deals are not revealed since it would compromise national (US) security.

Whom do you trust more - or less for that matter:

• Google
• Microsoft
• Yahoo
• Ask

(just kidding - they're probably all the same when it comes to those black SUV driving up)

Re:

[Anonymous Coward]

Well, take a look at which one of them already basically said "fuck you" to the government when they were asked for search results.

As much as people like to say "OMG Google is killing my privacy!" they're the only ones who have shown that they won't bend over for someone who wants your information.

Poppycock

[Eighty7]

Buried as innacurate. Nobody uses Ask.com

Re:Poppycock

[Penguinshit]

I had to Google them to find out who they were....

Re:

[Alexpkeaton1010]

True, but I will be using them if they implement this feature.

New "privacy" policy

[iminplaya]

1) You didn't have any then
2) You won't get any now
3) You'll never know if we keep your stuff or not
4) Just try and prove anything
5) You're a sucker if you believe we actually abide by some silly "privacy" policy
6) Hahahahaha...

Re:

[wizzahd]

here, I fixed it for you:

1) You didn't have any then
2) You won't get any now
3) You'll never know if we keep your stuff or not
4) Just try and prove anything
5) You're a sucker if you believe we actually abide by some silly "privacy" policy
6) Hahahahaha...
7) ???
8) Profit!!

logs about deleting logs about...

[SuperBanana]

Ask is taking the most radical step by unveiling plans for a tool called AskEraser which, it claims, will let people tune whether data is gathered about them on a search-by-search basis."

AHA! But what happens to the logs from the AskEraser tool?

*runs for cover*

(Psst. Serious side note: with AT&T and others happily giving the NSA and others big fat listening tubes, who cares...about the end points? Besides, a 6 month retention policy gives Google plenty of time to do all sorts of analysis. They probably don't need *any* bits of your IP after a few days...)

This is great.

[jez9999]

So I presume that, in this new spirit of protecting personal privacy, governments will stop requiring ISPs to retain user data, reduce the number of unnecessary CCTV cameras, stop flaunting US wiretap laws, as well as passing some legislation that gives companies something more than a slap on the wrist for leaking millions of customer credit card records?

Already Dropped Google

[NeverVotedBush]

And switched to Ask. I dropped Verizon when the news broke about their data habits. People need to start voting with their feet. It's the only regulation we'll ever see of what these companies do.

Re:

[mdm-adph]

Too bad that it's simply impossible for a lot of people to switch when there's only one or two providers in your area.