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IE10 Will Have 'Do Not Track' On By Default

Posted by Soulskill on from the stop-or-i'll-say-stop-again dept.

An anonymous reader writes "As Microsoft released the preview of the next version of its Internet Explorer browser, news that in Windows 8 the browser will be sending a 'Do Not Track' signal to Web sites by default must have shaken online advertising giants. 'Consumers can change this default setting if they choose,' Microsoft noted, but added that this decision reflects their commitment to providing Windows customers an experience that is 'private by default' in an era when so much user data is collected online.' This step will make Internet Explorer 10 the first web browser with DNT on by default. And while the websites are not required to comply with the users' do-not-track request, the DNT initiative — started by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission — is making good progress."

8 of 181 comments (clear)

  1. OK but... by squiggleslash · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's nice on the one hand that Microsoft is making the privacy option the default, but if DNT is unenforceable, wouldn't "DNT by default" give certain entities an excuse to ignore the DNT flag by default?

    --
    You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    1. Re:OK but... by NatasRevol · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I know language is a dynamic thing, but wow.

      --
      There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
    2. Re:OK but... by Metabolife · · Score: 5, Funny

      Don't be ludicrousity man. He has an eloquentocity about him that your feeblistic mind could never comprehendency.

  2. This is a direct assault on Google's revenue by RobinH · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Google makes it money from tracking users and selling customized ads. Google would look bad if they didn't honor DNT. Microsoft is setting the standard that DNT should be on by default, which reduces the ability for Google to track you all over the web. MS is not an ad company, so they really won't feel this as much.

    --
    "I have never let my schooling interfere with my education." - Mark Twain
    1. Re:This is a direct assault on Google's revenue by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Yes, this is an attack on Google, and has little to do with being "pro-consumer". In fact, I would consider it "anti-consumer", since non-paranoid people benefit from tracking, because it means the ads they are going to see anyway are tailored to their actual interests. I have no interest in turning off tracking, and want ad agencies to have as much information about me and my interests as I can give them.

      Just in case Google is parsing this post: I will be buying a new mini-van later this summer.

    2. Re:This is a direct assault on Google's revenue by Frankie70 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Just in case Google is parsing this post: I will be buying a new mini-van later this summer.

      We already know. We started the process to make you want a new van 3 weeks ago by showing ads for minivans 3 weeks ago. We also know you finally made up you mind yesterday.

      - The Google Team.

  3. The Real Question by clarkn0va · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Will the next version of Windows be the first in decades to not collect personally identifiable information from every user, by way of activation and other control schemes?

    It might make the marketeers feel all good inside to spout platitudes like "private by default' in an era when so much user data is collected online," but let MS apply the same sacrosanct wisdom to its own practise.

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    I am literally 3000 tokens away from the chaotic crossbow --Stephen
  4. Re:Who's DNT are they honoring? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is more of an anti-google move in the guise of privacy protection. They want Google ads to be less targeted to hurt their competition.