Consumers 'concerned over data retention'
Portals urged to inform users of data gathering
Monday, 21 Apr 2008 10:57
Search engines should provide greater clarity in relation to the consumer information they gather, it has been claimed.
Tony Neate, managing director of
Get Safe Online, said there is little information available as to exactly what information search providers are storing, meaning it can be difficult to assess whether or not they are doing enough to protect such data.
He suggested they should be more forthcoming with the details of what data they hold to allow consumers to make an informed decision as to whether or not they should use them.
For example, a provider may offer free email, free web access and free online storage but "as long as they tell you that they're going to be looking at the emails you send and what you're doing then you can make a personal choice", Mr Neate added.
An EU report assessing the retention of online data was published earlier this month and called for greater consumer notification of online data gathering activities.
Furthermore, it suggested that search engines could be behaving unlawfully if they do not do so.
