In response to increasing concerns about internet privacy, Google announced a new data retention policy. This policy involves deleting search engine queries after 18 to 24 months. Google is the first major search engine to implement such a policy and began this process in 2007.
Search queries can reveal a lot about a user, and Google’s previous policy of indefinite retention sparked criticism. Google responded by stating that the policy change is a result of feedback from privacy groups and government agencies. The new policy aims to improve user privacy. The retention period aligns with foreign laws requiring user information to be kept for up to two years for legal reasons.
Under the new policy, Google will erase eight bits of a user’s IP address, which identifies the computer used in a search query. Google also intends to anonymize cookies, small files that track website visits. Google states that the remaining data will help improve services and detect fraud and will not be used for other purposes.
The retention of search query records has been a debated issue since the Justice Department demanded query data from several websites. Yahoo Inc, AOL Time Warner, and Microsoft Corp complied with this request, which angered privacy groups. However, Google challenged this request in court and provided a reduced amount of user information.
This new policy eliminates the issue of disclosing such information to third parties. As Kurt Opsahl, an attorney for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, stated, “You can’t disclose what you don’t have.”