Microsoft Scraps Smart Tags Plan
By the InternetNews.com Staff

Following weeks of outraged criticism, Microsoft Corp. Thursday backed away from plans to include the Smart Tags feature in Windows XP's Internet Explorer 6.

The Smart Tags feature would allow IE 6 to turn any word on a Web site into a link at Microsoft's discretion. That link, without the Web site author's knowledge or consent, could lead to a Microsoft site or, conceivably, the site of a Microsoft partner or even an advertiser.

Critics said the feature gives Microsoft too much leverage over how users interact with Web pages.

The company reportedly will keep the Smart Tags feature in Office XP.

The final version of Windows XP is due to ship in October.