Microsoft is a Follower
Microsoft is following in Google’s footsteps by announcing that it intends to anonymize the data from search queries after 18 months with the permanent removal of cookie IDs, entire IP addresses or other identifiers from search terms.
They have a good reason to do this. They are jumping into the third party advertising pool with both feet subsequent to their $6 billion purchase of aQuantive. I remember reporting on this when it was announced. I didn’t grasp the significance of it back then. I am working on my grasping skills.
