Michael Zimmer.org

I noted a few weeks ago how privacy of Web search data has recently become an issue in the forefront of many people’s minds. Well, the virus is spreading:

• Search engines dealing with privacy standards: The European Digital Rights advocacy group has posted a nice summary of how search engines are attempting to address various privacy concerns and standards.
• Internet users criticize Google’s data greed and call for anonymous services: The German Working Group on Data Retention, an association of civil rights campaigners, data protection activists and Internet users, sent an open letter to Google about its data collection policies, arguing that Google’s data collection practices do not comply with Germany and EU data protection policies. [via Joris van Hoboken]
• Report Tracks and Compares Competition for Search Privacy: The Center for Democracy & Technology has issued a brief outline of recent efforts by the leading search engines as they begin to compete with one another to offer stronger (we hope) privacy protections.
• Google & Privacy: Thoughtful blog post by Chris Graves at Citadel of the Blogs focusing on Google’s retention policy, their participation in the Safe Harbor program, and cooperation with law enforcement. [via David Fraser]