Friday, 20 July 2007

Google Modifies Cookie Privacy

Google, the world’s biggest search engine has decided to reduce the life span of its "cookie" data-tracking file. However it is not known whether this will have any bearing on the privacy. Even the European Union has been quite sceptical about this initiative.

Under the new deal, cookies will expire after two years rather than 2038, which is currently the case now. Google, however said, the two-year period can be extended when users revisit Google's search engine. Google has decided to remove key pieces of identifying information from its system every 18 months to address those worries.

Despite these measures, is privacy still at stake? Privacy advocates say yes as Google expands into many services beyond its core search, mail and maps service. Law-enforcement agencies and other parties could subpoena data retained by Google.

Google defended making the cookies expire in 2038 saying the cookies are important for remembering users' preferences and that's why cookies were set to expire far into the future - beyond the expected life spans of personal computers today.