Controversial as it is, the DNT (Do Not Track) option remains a very important technology for Microsoft, and its popular web browser. Redmond regularly talks about this feature, and now the software titan has improved the default behavior in Windows 8.1 Preview.
While Do Not Track still remains turned on by default in Internet Explorer 11 on Windows 8.1 Preview, the browse new comes with what the company calls “User-Granted Exceptions”. As the name so very aptly gives away the feature allows specific websites to collect user data.
Brendon Lynch, chief privacy officer, Microsoft explained in a blog post:
“The Do Not Track exceptions capability in Internet Explorer, which we refer to as the ‘permissions API’ (application programming interface), enables websites to ask for an exception to a consumer’s DNT setting and provides a mechanism for that permission to be stored and communicated to the website in the future.”
The company further explains that the decision of implementing this feature was based on feedback it heard from user, advertisers and companies:
“Enabling consumers to grant permission to a particular website or service for collection and use of their information, even when DNT is on for other sites, reflects feedback that we heard clearly during discussions.”
Do Not Track has been one of the more controversial web technologies, made even more divisive by Microsoft’s decision to have it on by default in Internet Explorer 10.
Advertisers have heavily criticized Microsoft for move, while the software titan continues to maintain that this feature shows that it cares about user privacy. This new middle ground, hopefully, helps to settle this polemic debate.
