CDT Reports on Search Engine Privacy Policies - Not All Rosy for Privacy
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The Center for Digital Democracy, however, takes exception to the CDT's report. The CDD has previously complained about the ways in which Microsoft and Google handled privacy issues, and complains that the CDT's report does not go far enough. In a blog post, CDD executive director Jeff Chester accuses the CDT of having "long been an ally of the various data collection companies it purports to oversee on behalf of consumers" and of receiving funding from the very companies it reviewed.
Chester pointed out that "it's only because of policy-related pressure from privacy advocates" that the search engines have made any changes to their policies at all. Chester believes that "The marketplace's approach isn't protecting consumers."
Chester is convinced that despite the modest improvements we've seen, the privacy landscape is going to get worse, not better, and cites interactive advertising practices - behavioral targeting, rich media, and virtual reality formats - as "posing a serious threat to privacy and personal autonomy." Furthermore, he does not believe the CDT is capable of giving an objective evaluation of the search engines' products. "As long as CDT's hands are out for a donation, they won't be able to have an independent position that protects the public."
Even so, regardless of the source, the industry itself seems to have heard the complaints about privacy, and is taking steps to self-regulate. Late last month, Microsoft and Ask said they wanted other companies to join them in creating guidelines for the protection of consumer privacy in two areas: search and online advertising. They planned to report on their efforts in September. Brendan Lynch, director of privacy strategy at Microsoft, noted that "It's a topical area right now, and (the Google-DoubleClick plan) had some influence on us looking at this...We believe privacy is a very important aspect for our business going forward." The search engines have indeed taken some steps forward, but whether they will continue to follow up their words with action remains to be seen.
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