The launch of the Windows 8 Release Preview on Thursday also came with a new version of Internet Explorer 10. As we reported on Thursday, Microsoft had made the decision to put in the Do Not Track feature in IE 10 as the default for its users. Microsoft called this new move an "important step in this process of establishing privacy by default, putting consumers in control and building trust online."
As it turns out, not everyone is happy about this decision. The Digital Advertising Alliance has issued a press release that expresses concern over this move. The DAA, described as "a coalition of the nation’s leading media and marketing trade associations and companies" said that back in February it had committed to an agreement that would honor browser data collection settings but also supported giving the consumer the choice about how companies collect information from their web browser.
The DAA claims that Microsoft"s decision to put in Do Not Track as the default setting for IE 10 on Windows 8 could "undermine" the balance of self regulation by ad companies combined with offering consumers the choice of whether or not to block data collection. It added:
The DAA is very concerned that this unilateral decision by one browser maker - made without consultation within the self-regulatory process - may ultimately narrow the scope of consumer choices, undercut thriving business models, and reduce the availability and diversity of the Internet products and services that millions of American consumers currently enjoy at no charge. The resulting marketplace confusion will not benefit consumers, and will profoundly impact the broad array of advertising-supported services they currently enjoy.
Source: Digital Advertising Alliance