A new feature installed by Microsoft on prototypes of its new
Windows XP operating system is causing concern, according to a
report in the on-line edition of the Wall Street Journal. The
Internet Explorer Smart Tags is a feature that can modify web pages
in a way that links a user to a web site of Microsoft’s choosing.
It automatically scans the web page that an XP user browses and
inserts links beneath certain types of words, for example names of
companies, sports teams or colleges.
Some web site operators are worried that the feature may give
Microsoft too much control over how people surf the web. There are
also concerns that Microsoft could modify web sites without
permission. Brooks Fisher of Inuit, the company behind Quicken.com,
the personal financial information web site, told WSJ.com that he
is concerned, “that some company, any company could go in and
monkey around with something you publish and could hurt your
customer experience or your revenue.”
Microsoft defends the smart tag feature by saying it provides
users with valuable links to relevant information while browsing.
It has not yet decided whether to include it in the final version
of Windows XP, due for release on 25th October.
