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E.U. Regulator Says IP Addresses Are Personal Data

Posted by samzenpus on from the do-not-share dept.

NewsCloud writes "Germany's data-protection commissioner, Peter Scharr told a European Parliament hearing on online data protection that when someone is identified by an IP, or Internet protocol, address, 'then it has to be regarded as personal data.' Scharr acknowledged that IP addresses for a computer may not always be personal or linked to an individual. If the E.U. rules that IP addresses are personal, then it could regulate the way search engines record this data. According to the article, Google does an incomplete job of anonymizing this data while Microsoft does not record IP addresses for anonymous search."

3 of 164 comments (clear)

  1. Strange idea by geek · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Never really looked at it this way. I think it's become ingrained in us that IP's are a way of tracking instead of a way of communicating. Being able to track them is just a side issue. If we look at an IP as a means of communication then does that not make it private in some way? I don't know exactly how I feel about this but I'd certainly like to have more rights rather than less of them.

  2. So... by deepershade · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Does that mean that if passed, then the RIAA can't use my personal data 'IP' to sue me? TFA was a little short on details of the reprecushions of this.

  3. Trust Microsoft by Doc+Ruby · · Score: 3, Interesting

    According to the article, Google does an incomplete job of anonymizing this data while Microsoft does not record IP addresses for anonymous search.


    Unless Microsoft is just lying. How can they be trusted, with their track record?
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