Advancement of privacy systems called for by EU

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» 28 May 2010

Advancement of privacy systems called for by EU

European Union (EU) asks for the advancement in the online privacy systems of the three large technological companies namely Yahoo, Google, and Microsoft. According to EU, these corporations should do their best in developing the privacy system so as to shorten the time that the browser-based data are stored. In addition, increasing the effectiveness of the privacy should include the process in which the anonymity of the pieces of information is maintained.

Inadequacy in the method of maintaining privacy noted

The chairman Jacob Kohnstamm of the Article 29 Working Party (WP29), which is a Europe-based data protection and privacy organization, was the one who wrote the letter to the companies’ chief executives. And, based on this letter, the present processes of keeping the users’ privacy were found to be inadequate.

Kohnstamm added in his note that the organization WP29 observed a lack of conformity of the companies to the specific data protection directive established by EU. The group believes that revision on the companies’ presentation of secrecy should be revised.

The three leading corporations in the technological industry received criticisms from the chief of WP29. The man deemed that there are faults in their method of storing and deleting of data and also the process of keeping the identity and information about the users private. According to the European body, these companies violate the limit set by EU, which is the maximum of 6 months.

Audiovisual data flood the entire web

WP29’s representative stated that legal and reasonable procedure in the search engines’ handling of data turns more complicated nowadays. The reason for this is the widespread existence of the audiovisual data in the web such as digital photos, audio, and video substances. Also, there is a rise in the utilization of the geo-location on the web.

It was discovered that whenever a user surfs the internet, he or she leaves a certain footprint on the search history. The footprint can be identified as the interests, relations, and intentions of the individual. Hence, there is a great need for the valuable process of upholding confidentiality.

Certain websites like Facebook are in the course of developing their privacy setting due to the demand of the online users for a strong privacy. And, based on the research conducted by Ofcom, the users from the United Kingdom are learning to be vigilant especially when it comes to the data that they put in the web.

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