Microsoft Announces New Privacy Policy

Close on the heels of Google's boost in privacy features for its search engine users, Microsoft has announced an enhanced set of privacy principles for Live Search and online advertising data collection, on use and protection.According to Microsoft, the principles outline new, enhanced steps to help protect the privacy of Microsoft Windows Live users, including making search query data anonymous after 18 months by permanently removing cookie IDs, the entire IP address and other identifiers from search terms. Microsoft says it will also work to give customers more control over what information it uses to personalize their online search experience. In connection with its efforts to support a common industry approach to privacy issues, Microsoft also announced that it will join the Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) later this year when it begins to offer third-party ad serving broadly.Peter Cullen, chief privacy strategist at Microsoft said, "We have been thinking deeply about privacy