Today, Microsoft released the preview of IE10,the next version of its Internet Explorer browser, also Microsoft announced that in Windows 8,the browser Internet Explorer 10 in Windows 8 will have “Do Not Track” (DNT) on by default, this feature have shook online advertising giants.
The company boasted that IE10 will be the “first browser to feature Do Not Track ‘on’ by default, giving customers more choice and control over their privacy.”
Do Not Track feature in a browser, doesn’t attempt to block cookies — instead it sends a message to every website you visit saying you prefer not to be tracked. This feature is currently optional for sites and web advertising firms to obey, but it’s gaining momentum with Twitter announcing support for “Do Not Track” initiative and it has already rolled out the DNT opt-out cookie.
The idea of a DNT signal was in part born out of the work of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission which, in a December 2010 report, called on the technology and advertising industries to create a more uniform and comprehensive consumer choice mechanism for online behavioral advertising targeting. Very soon after that announcement, microsoft included the opportunity for consumers to turn on the DNT signal, by adding DNT to IE9 in February 2011.
“Consumers can change this default setting if they choose,” Microsoft noted, but added that this decision reflects their commitment to providing Windows customers an experience that is “private by default” in an era when so much user data is collected online.
Supporters of the initiative fear that Microsoft’s step might make the online ad industry feel like their hand is being forced and make it less willing to cooperate in the future.
“We’ve made today’s decision because we believe in putting people first. We believe that consumers should have more control over how information about their online behavior is tracked, shared and used,” shared Brendon Lynch, Microsoft’s Chief Privacy Officer.