In a move that seems destined to invite tension with major American search engines, a European Commission advisory body has suggested that those companies delete data collected about their users after six months–a far cry from what most companies currently do.
The recommendation arrived in a 29-page “opinion” published by a European Commission body known as the Article 29 Working Party. Backed by privacy groups, it has been pressuring Internet companies on the search data front for months. The report focused on advertising-supported search engines, as opposed to search functions embedded in Web sites.
The Working Party’s suggestions don’t officially have the force of law yet, but they are expected to be adopted by the EC. The EC already adopted a broader set of data protection laws a decade ago, but this report was meant to address specifically how search engines, including those headquartered outside its borders, fit into that setup.
Privacy in search engines is critical because “an individual’s search history contains a footprint of that person’s interests, relations, and intentions,” which can then be mined by businesses and national security operatives alike.
Right now, Google and MSN retain data for 18 months – Yahoo for 13 months. Confronting European history with the party line about improving the quality of search results – just might not cut it.
How does the EU manage to protect privacy rights when they are all atheists and they don’t even have a constitution and very few guns.
Doesn’t make any sense.
Eideard – you probably shouldn’t have included a comment about Euro history.
1. Americans have no comprehension of the effects, cumulative or otherwise, of centuries of war on your homeland. Native Americans might; but, not your average WC.
2. Even if the odd American has bumped into enough history and politics to understand where the EU is coming from, let’s face it, we probably couldn’t get the Bill of Rights passed as a referendum, here, anyway.
Good on them. They’re trying to something right. We can only hope that they push it through and enforce it THEN Google, et. al., decide it’s just easier to do the same with people on this side of the Atlantic. Fat chance. But, I can hope.
Right now, Google and MSN retain data for 18 months – Yahoo for 13 months.
…and the Paranoid said, even if the above happens to be true…
…how about the companies and governments to whom Google, MSN and Yahoo sell/give this information? Like China, for instance…
How long do those organizations/states retain it?
Six months is way too long, make it 30 days and gone !!! And NO HANDOUTS TO GOVERNMENT SNOOPS, EITHER !!!
@ bobo
What does the fact that we have a high number atheists in europe have to do with privacy?
We do not have a europe-wide constitution yet although one is in the works. However almost all individual countries within the EU have their own cossitiution. However I yet again do not see the relevance of a constitution to protecting privacy!
Once more I do not understand the relevance of guns to privacy, at least online.
Bobo, you’ve got it backwards. Atheists aren’t used to thinking God is watching over their shoulder, so they care more about their privacy.
Bobbo, from my observations, doesn’t even like privacy, so I really don’t get what he’s on about.
bob, you been pwned!
If American hadn’t been ruled by do-nothing and then obstructionists conservatives, maybe we’d have some privacy rights and protections.
For starters, companies should not be allowed to keep your credit card number after the transaction is completed. This is just asking for hackers.
(the exception, of course, is when a consumer give permission… like in the case of Amazon or PayPal.)
Use http://www.Ixquick.com .
They only save info for 2 days.
It’s from The Netherlands.
Out of reach of Mr. Cheney.