Microsoft puts 'Do Not Track' function in next browser

Microsoft said a new version of its browser, Internet Explorer, will come with technology that can block third-party firms from tracking a user's activity on the Web. The announcement comes after the Federal Trade Commission last week recommended a blanket anti-tracking mechanism that would protect users' privacy online. Specifically, the IE9 browser will allow a user to set up a Tracking Protection list of Web sites that it doesn't want to track its information. A user would have to proactively set up the list. The default would be that Web sites -- including third-party firms -- could gather information about users as they do today.