New York, New York - (Website Hosting Directory) - July 20, 2007 - Search engine, hakia.com, conducted a poll of 295 technology blog web searchers, which indicated that 62% of those polled, do not entirely trust search engines with 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 store 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)

Give users the opportunity to opt out at will. 10% (25 votes)

Empower users to manage and improve the relevancy of their own search results. 12% (30 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.

Founder of hakia, Dr. Berkan is a nuclear scientist by training with a specialization in artificial intelligence and fuzzy logic. He is the author of several articles in this area, including the book Fuzzy Systems Design Principles published by IEEE in 1997. Between 1990 and 2000, Dr. Berkan worked as a subcontractor to the US Government and handled multiple Lockheed Martin Energy Systems and Westinghouse projects involving the Y-12 Plant, Savannah River Plant, and Los Alamos National Laboratory. Dr. Berkan holds a B.S. in Physics from Hacettepe University, Turkey and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Tennessee with a specialization in Artificial Intelligence.

Founded in 2004, hakia developed its first meaning-based search engine, utilizing a new infrastructure, designed to deliver the most relevant search results. The company is privately held and based in New York City.

For more information about hakia, please visit: www.hakia.com.



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