IE 10 'Do Not Track' Tracked in D.C.
Even when Microsoft does good it gets knocked around. Take Do Not Track (DNT). This does as it says if data brokers comply. The W3C Web standard will make it so your clickstream data isn't collected by data-hungry Web marketers who love to use it against you. Oh, and this data gets passed around more than playing cards at a Penn & Teller show.
Microsoft thought it was doing a good thing when it decided it (DNT) should be a default setting in IE 10. I mean, how much trouble do we all get into when we neglect to do something we probably should and don't know we can do?
For some reason the W3C thinks we should all opt-in to Do Not Track as if everyone understands the concept of clickstream data. A little optimistic, no?
So who's giving Redmond this hard time? The U.S. government.
The spec, which like most Web specs is almost never really done, was the subject of a meeting of the Congressional Bi-Partisan Privacy Caucus (and it was a fan of Microsoft's default ways).
The FTC fought Microsoft on antitrust grounds in the '90s. Now, at least one Commissioner doesn't like Microsoft deciding on what is best for consumers when it comes to Do Not Track.
But just as you can opt-in, can't you opt-out FTC?
Whose side are you on? Cast your vote at [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on 06/25/2012 at 1:19 PM