Google recently announced its plans to implement new privacy practices concerning user data, with such information becoming anonymous after a period of 18 to 24 months. While the move is a step in the right direction on the industry level, one wonders when the government might step in and enact privacy legislation of its own.

This is the cry from Microsoft, who over the past several month has released numerous statements and manifestos outlining the current state of user privacy, and what steps could be taken to ensure the security of a user’s data.

In its latest statement on the matter, the company urges lawmakers to step up in developing current legislation to tackle the issue of privacy:

On the legal front, we at Microsoft believe the United States needs an all-inclusive, uniform privacy law that will give consumers more control over their personal data and more reason for confidence in providing information to legitimate businesses and other organizations. With the flow of information becoming increasingly global, we also see a growing need to align U.S. law with current and emerging privacy standards in the rest of the world.

In his report from the Open Data Conference, Loren Feldman of 1938 Media reports that Comcast has been in the business of selling user information to third party advertisers for some time now, and estimates that a single user’s data is worth about forty cents.

So maybe Microsoft is right on the money here by appealing lawmakers to get involved, because if Comcast is any example, the Internet industry sure isn’t going to police itself.

Most would think that since Election Day has passed, the practice of mudslinging would begin to die down.

don’t tell that to Loren Feldman.

The outspoken head of production for 1938 Media has made some waves in recent weeks with his sometimes heated, often satirical criticisms of what many consider to be some of the blogosphere’s most influential players.

First, let’s consider the much maligned PayPerPost and the subsequent debate surrounding the company’s payment-for-blogging model. Jason Calacanis goes on the record repeatedly as an opponent of PayPerPost, even labeling the company as “stupid and evil”.

Feldman, however, had some choice words for Calacanis in an October 23rd video blog entry. He responded to Calacanis’ criticism of PayPerPost by retorting, “What people want to do with their blog is their own (expletive) business.”

Offering guidance to PayPerPost, Feldman advises the company to “tell [Calacanis] to (expletive) and get out of your office!”

Clearly, Loren Feldman isn’t afraid to say what’s on his mind.

A week later, Feldman introduced a new show, entitled Jason’s Place, in which he pokes even more fun at Calacanis. This time however, Feldman didn’t limit his ribbing to the Weblogs, Inc. founder, but also drew blogosphere darling Robert Scoble in to the fray.

When I asked Robert for his taken on it, he told me, “I thought it was funny.”

Calacanis, however, would seem to be less jovial in his attitude toward Feldman’s criticisms, as multiple attempts to contact him for a response have went unanswered.

Feldman’s venomous volleys, however, haven’t been limited to just Calacnis. TechCrunch’s Michael Arrington has felt the sting of his video antics as well.

So what is point of all this mockery? Well, other than my personal amusement, I believe it all hinges around the concept of blogosphere politics.

Bloggers, like politicians, serve a constituency. For most politicians, it takes years of careful planning and perfectly executed strategy in order to build a solid constituency of voters.

In the same respect, bloggers are always looking to add to their viewership; and election results are tallied in terms of page clicks and community feedback rather than raw voting numbers.

So while Feldman’s tactics could be perceived as underhanded, he is accomplishing his goal. More people are taking note of 1938 Media and his video blog.

Is it moral? That’s debatable.

Is it effective? Most definitely.

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Joe is a staff writer for WebProNews. Visit WebProNews for the latest ebusiness news.