Comments on: Yahoo to anonymize user data after 90 days

Clearly, the race is on to the bottom on data retention policies. In particular, Google and Yahoo have been playing a game of privacy leapfrog.

[pjhenry1216]

"in identifiable form for *no more* than 6 months ... Yahoo may have to retain data for longer periods"
(emphasis mine)

At what point does "no more" cease to have meaning?

And what business purposes require holding on to user identifiable information? why can't it be anonymized immediately?

[humanssssss]

It's paradoxical to say they anonymize after 90 days. Then they go on to say "Yahoo may have to retain data for longer periods to meet other legal obligations."

So they are saying, today they anonymize the data, tomorrow they unanonymize the data. Are they suggesting that they keep two sets of data. One they anonymize, another unanonymize.

[Wak_Em]

I know there is a point in there somewhere...unless it was anonymous.

[upuaut]

One immediate benefit to anonymization, if it truly is done, is the reduction in storage space needed. This would fit yahoo since it'd save them few bucks here and there in storage.