In its upcoming version of Internet Explorer, Microsoft will introduce a "Tracking Protection" feature allowing users to block certain websites from collecting information about them. They will also be able to subscribe to "Tracking Protection Lists," directories of untrustworthy sites to be blocked. (Both features are "opt-in," meaning they will need to be activated by users.) Microsoft's announcement comes a week after the Federal Trade Commission said the online-ad industry is not transparent enough about what data it collects from users. Are IE9's new features an important step in online privacy control — or just good business strategy?
It probably will not have much effect: "Most users are unlikely to start creating these lists on their own," says Kashmir Hill at Forbes. "Only the nerdiest of Web surfers actually plays with their browser settings," and "most are simply unaware of which third parties are gathering data about them." This just invites "consumer groups to create lists of acceptable and unacceptable sites," but it's doubtful that many people will subscribe to them.
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