Search engines under pressure in europe to delete personal info quickly

The mugwump advisory body stated in the 29-page written document that hunt engines should delete user info such as IP computer address within six calendar month, unless there is a particular reason to do otherwise. If hunt engines were to keep such data thirster, they should notify users of their purpose. Google has antecedently said it would hold on to such data for no more than 18 calendar month.

At the heart of the dissension is a inquiry of how much privateness Web users are entitled to when using a hunt engine. Google and other engines claim that user data is necessity to optimizing their services. The Article 29 Working Party claims that maintaining such data via media an individual's privacy, and that hunt engines can continue to improve their service without using sensitive data.

The study, dated April 4, also calls for increased user presentment of data usage and warns that weakness to provide it may violate European Union laws.

Google's global privateness counsel, Peter Fleischer, responded to the study with a post on the company's public policy blog. Fleischer maintains 18 calendar month is an appropriate time to retain user data, and that much of that data is being used to develop tools to help protect user personal identity.

"We believe that data keeping requirements have to take into business relationship the need to provide quality merchandise and services for users, like accurate search consequence, as well as scheme security and unity concerns," he wrote. "This position -- the ways in which data is used to improve consumers' experience on the Web -- is unluckily sometimes lacking in discussions about online privacy."

Both Microsoft and Yahoo representatives have stated that they are committed to striking a balance between service optimization and user privacy, but are still reviewing the report.

The report is not legally binding, but the European Commission is widely expected to develop legislation along the lines of its recommendations.

The report also said that search engines should seek user permission before serving up personalized ads, and that data maintained for one purpose, such as search engine optimization, should not be used for another, unrelated purpose, such as security improvements.