62% Don't Trust Search Engines with Their Information 30% do not want a search engine to ever store information, survey of tech blog readers reveals NEW YORK, NEW YORK, -- July 18, 2007 - A poll of 295 Web searchers who are readers of top-technology Web blogs reveals that 62 percent do not trust their search engine with their information. In addition, users disclosed the most important issues search engines can address to win users' trust. The top two responses were "users did not want search engines to stores any data at all:" (30%); and "users wanted editing permission over the data search engines keep:" (19%). The poll was conducted from May 30 to July 17th by hakia.com , a new meaning-based search engine. Poll results can be accessed at http://searchforbettersearch.com/ and are as follows: Do you trust your search engine with your information? No 62% (166 votes) Yes 38% (106 votes) Total votes: 295 What is the single most important issue search engines can address to win users' trust? Don't ever store user information. 30% (72 votes) Give users access to and editing permission over the data search engines keep. 19% (47 votes) Be transparent about filtering they use to display results, capture information and disclose biases. 14% (35 votes) Empower users to manage and improve the relevancy of their own search results. 12% (30 votes) Give users the opportunity to opt out at will. 10% (25 votes) Have regular open conversations with users on the use of user data. 5% (12 votes) Give users the tools to curate and prune search history. 5% (12 votes) None of the above 5% (11 votes) Total votes: 244 According to Dr. Riza C. Berkan, CEO of hakia, "It is not the data or cookies...it is the intent in handling them. The problem is purely in communications. Search engines must openly declare what they are doing with the data and all tracking devices, almost like a confession. Alternatively, they can ask users' permission when the data is being captured and the privacy line could be seemingly crossed. Once such clarity is exercised, then it is a fair environment." About The Poll: The poll is part of a program created and envisioned by hakia entitled: "The Search For Better Search™." The poll and commentary was linked to the following sites: www.battellemedia.com; www.resourceshelf.com; www.gigaom.com; www.techcrunch.com; www.venturebeat.com; www.readwriteweb.com; and www.arstechnica.com. About hakia hakia has developed the Web's new meaning-based search engine, utilizing a radically new infrastructure designed to deliver the most relevant search results. Founded in 2004, the company is privately held and based in New York City. Go to http://www.hakia.com.