Forum Moderators: goodroi
Google would consider keeping a user's search data for longer than 18 months if they had explicitly consented, one of the firm's key executives has said.
The web giant currently anonymises a user's search history after 18 months.There are concerns among some privacy advocates that Google could know too much about a user's web history.
But Marissa Mayer, vice-president of search, said the firm would look at letting users opt in to having their search data held for longer.
Google Considers Opt-in to Keep Users Information "For Longer" [news.bbc.co.uk]
How long is longer?
I've long argued that Google needs an opt-in system; only 'clean' sites would dare opt in, and the advantages Google could give such sites would blow most blackheart sites out of the water.
All this fuss about the data Google has - plenty, if you look at Google analytics - but the damage that data does to site owners is purely theoretical; the day there's a 'real risk', we can all opt out.
It would also end the arguments about Google caches, and prevent abuse of your Adsense code by rival sites.
In fact, not being a Civil Libertarian, I see no down side (And yes, I have no worries about phone taps or CCTV either, though I wish they'd concentrate on the criminals!).
Gimme the form!
Google are acting on search to hush the privacy brigade; now they have no exuse to deny the webmaster pressure for opt-in.
You'll thank me later ;)
