Comparing Bing Privacy Policies with Other Search Engines Best Practices

Understanding Bing's Privacy Policies in the Context of Search Engines

Bing, like other major search engines, collects and processes user data to enhance search experiences and personalize services. However, the specifics of how Bing handles user data can be quite different from its competitors. Here’s a detailed comparison of Bing’s privacy policies with those of other search engines, highlighting key differences and best practices.

Data Collection and Use

Bing collects a wide range of data, including information you provide, interaction data, device data, error reports, support data, interests and favorites, contacts, location data, and content uploaded to Microsoft services.

• Information You Provide: This includes name, email, login credentials, age, gender, country, language, payment data, and address.
• Interaction Data: Features used, items purchased, web pages visited, and voice and text queries to Bing and Cortana.
• Device Data: Model, OS version, ISP, software installed, product keys, IP address, IMEI numbers, and region and language settings.
• Error Reports and Performance Data: Type or severity of a problem, hardware and software details, and data about other software installed on the device.

In contrast, Google also collects similar types of data but with some differences in how it is used. For example, Google automatically deletes search history for new accounts after 18 months, and users can choose to delete their search data at any time.

Data Retention and De-identification

Bing de-identifies stored search queries by removing the entirety of the IP address after six months and cookie IDs and other cross-session identifiers after 18 months. This practice is aimed at protecting user privacy by making it harder to associate search queries with individual users.

Google also de-identifies data but with different retention periods. Google deletes search history for new accounts after 18 months, and users can manually delete their search data at any time.

User Control Over Data

Bing provides users with several tools to manage their data. Users can control their information through privacy settings, view and clear their browsing, search, and location data associated with their Microsoft account on the Microsoft privacy dashboard.

• Privacy Dashboard: Allows users to manage their personalization settings, erase search and chat history, and control other data-related preferences.
• Bing Settings: Users can revisit search terms and results, and manage other settings related to their search experience.

Google also offers similar controls, allowing users to delete their search data and turn off data collection for advertising purposes. However, Google's options are more extensive, including the ability to request that personally identifiable information not appear in Google search results.

Sharing Data with Third Parties

Bing shares some de-identified data with selected third parties, but it ensures that this data is processed to remove sensitive information such as social security numbers or credit card numbers. Bing requires these third parties to keep the data secure and use it only for the intended purposes.

Google and Bing both share personal information with third parties for marketing purposes but do not sell or rent this data.

Privacy Evaluations and Ratings

Both Bing and Google have received a "Warning" rating from the Common Sense Privacy Program, indicating that while they do not fail in protecting user privacy, there are areas for improvement. This program helps parents and educators evaluate the privacy practices of various online services.

Best Practices for Users

To maximize privacy when using Bing or any other search engine, users should:

• Regularly Review Privacy Settings: Use the privacy dashboard to manage personalization settings and clear browsing and search history.
• Understand Data Collection: Be aware of the types of data being collected and how it is used.
• Use Secure Connections: Ensure that the browser and search engine connections are secure (HTTPS).
• Limit Personal Data Sharing: Be cautious about sharing personal data, especially sensitive information, when using online services.

By understanding these practices and comparing them with other search engines, users can make informed decisions about their online privacy and security.