===================================================================== ITGovNews - EU Reviewing All Search Engines June 26, 2007 http://www.itgovnews.com ********************************************************************* ********************************************************************* Are you running Exchange email security tools from Symantec, McAfee, Trend, or MS-Antigen? Tired of their high (renewal) prices, hard to manage product, and/or lack of features? Upgrade to Ninja's next-generation email security, and spend half your admin time, and half your budget! Download Ninja Email Security - US/CANADA ONLY http://aj.600z.com/aj/30700/0/cc?z=1&b=30087&c=30699 ********************************************************************* ********************************************************************* EU Reviewing All Search Engines Dan Morrill | Expert Author Information about users takes a bigger step in the EU as they decide that they need to review the data protection and retention policies of all the search engines. What was once a singular focus on Google, MSN, Yahoo, Lycos and other search engines get brought into the fray on exactly what can a company do with the data that they get from the visitors to their web sites. The E.U.'s panel of national data protection officers said it's now concerned over the retention of data that the companies use to deliver more relevant search results and advertising. Some fear the data could be targeted by hackers and governments. "The Working Party will deal with search engines in general and scrutinize their activities from a data-protection point of view, because this issue affects an ever-growing number of users," it said in a statement Thursday. Source: Time Government regulation is nothing new, but in the contentious process between the needs of marketing and advertising, regulation, and consumer protection, search engines in general are the latest people to come under scrutiny in the driven need to separate user information from uses that violate privacy, or could unduly influence decisions down the road for those users. The EU has always been progressive in some respects when it comes to data retention and privacy standards. They are more stringent overall than American standards, and multinational companies often have to implement different standards for the countries that they work or do business in. ********************************************************************* ********************************************************************* You need to make a conference call, and you need it now. Whether you are a Fortune 500 company or a small business just getting on your feet, you need to meet when and where it’s convenient for you. Try ConferenceCall.com Now! http://aj.600z.com/aj/30698/0/cc?z=1&b=30632&c=30697 ********************************************************************* ********************************************************************* The AOL data release was one major issue, and has over time raised the awareness of how damaging the search histories that can be tied back to individual users can be. The idea of data track back to individuals to sell them things is a marketing dream. Marketers have always wanted to know what people are doing when they purchase something, and to understand consumer behavior in the purchase decision making process. The blending of search history, personal search history, advertising clicks, and the ability to influence if not alter a buying decision based on strategic advertising is an excellent model. But one that the EU is looking at as an invasion of privacy, with worries that nefarious "hackers et al" could use that information immediately or down the road to black mail or otherwise influence alternative purchasing strategies. We would all love to know what President Bush searches for, or what the rich and famous search for as a view into leadership thoughts and what data they think is important. Just like copycat buying from Warren Buffet (when he buys something, many people copycat the buy), copycat surfing or copycat purchasing from people who are famous or rich. Finding people who would be influenced by that process can be easily done when matching profiles, against surfing habits, against advertising clicks. It is a real issue, one that the EU is taking seriously, and that will probably drive additional requirements or regulation upon companies that hold or retain data that could be used to influence consumer choice. What will be even more interesting to see in the longer run is what US policy or laws will be influenced by what is happening with the EU working group, and how the new regulations will be implemented. Smart startup companies or data management companies should be looking at this process as a business opportunity. The depersonalization of data is going to become a booming business, as soon as the rules are firmly established. ********************************************************************* ********************************************************************* About the Author: Dan Morrill has been in the information security field for 18 years, both civilian and military, and is currently working on his Doctor of Management. Dan shares his insights on the important security issues of today through his blog, Managing Intellectual Property & IT Security, and is an active participant in the ITtoolbox blogging community. ********************************************************************* ********************************************************************* For ad details and prices... mailto:susan@ientry.com ********************************************************************* Signup for free newsletters: http://www.ientry.com/page/newsletters ********************************************************************* --- ITGovNews is an iEntry.com publication --- http://www.iEntry.com iEntry, Inc. 2549 Richmond Rd Second Floor Lexington, KY 40509 *********************************************************************