It’s a move that’s been rumoured for a little while now, but Microsoft has officially announced that IE9 will have tools that control what data is collected about what a user does online. The tools will let people stop a site they are visiting sharing information about what they do with other sites.

Users will be able to create lists stating that their data will only be shared with sites they want to see it, according to a company blog post.

In the post, Microsoft said many people did not realise that when they visit a website what they look for, view or buy there is often shared with other companies without that user’s knowledge.

As a BBC report points out, IE9 will see the introduction of what Microsoft calls ‘Tracking Protection Lists’ that it says will work like the ‘Do Not Call’ lists that limit who marketing firms can cold call. The lists will be defined by users and limit the sharing of data only to those sites which a user is happy to see the information. When switched on, the system might mean that some adverts or other features do not appear when users visit sites.

Anyone will be able to write a list and share it with others so they can get the same protection, said Microsoft. It also plans to release the formatting and standards for the lists under an open licence so other browser makers can adopt them.

The tracking system will be turned off by default and users will have to “opt in” to use it.

Microsoft said early versions of the tools would be included in the version of IE9 due for release in early 2011. Said the company statement, “We believe that the combination of consumer opt-in, an open platform for publishing of Tracking Protection Lists (TPLs), and the underlying technology mechanism for Tracking Protection offer new options and a good balance between empowering consumers and online industry needs. They further empower consumers and complement many of the other ideas under discussion.”

It is not the first browser to offer such functionality. Chrome, Firefox and Opera also allow users to create lists of trusted sites.