Privacy on the Internet today is so riddled with conflicts of interests and doublespeak that it's hard to know where anyone stands on anything.
Microsoft implemented a Do-Not-Track by default in IE 10 [0], only to later reveal it was planning an even more intrusive ad tracking system of its own [1]
Google added a Do-Not-Track feature belatedly to Chrome, buried within levels of settings and warnings [2]. And yeah, they're working on their own cookie replacement too [3].
Facebook meanwhile is tracking you across the web through its own re-targeting tech [4] and even your cursor movements on its site [5]
In fact, when companies like Google, Facebook and Microsoft want to dump cookies [6], I'd argue that we're already past the point where a Firefox can make a difference.
IMHO Internet tracking has become like fast food. A meaningful difference will only come when average users start caring about their privacy and are willing to make conscious choices for it.
IMHO Internet tracking has become like fast food. A meaningful difference will only come when average users start caring about their privacy and are willing to make conscious choices for it.
Definitely agreed. Unfortunately, I think it's much harder for your average web user to make that choice than for your average person to avoid fast food: Everyone knows what and where a grocery store is and that fast food is not usually nutritious, but I don't believe most web users understand how many browser options there are or, in many cases, what that actually means or what other means could help preserve their privacy, if they understand this particular privacy issue in the first place.
Another issue is that people for most part don't seem to have an issue with tracking ("I have nothing to hide", "I trust them not to do evil", etc.), whereas the adverse health effects of bad food and obesity are well know and easily observed.
Comments
Privacy on the Internet today is so riddled with conflicts of interests and doublespeak that it's hard to know where anyone stands on anything.
Microsoft implemented a Do-Not-Track by default in IE 10 [0], only to later reveal it was planning an even more intrusive ad tracking system of its own [1]
Google added a Do-Not-Track feature belatedly to Chrome, buried within levels of settings and warnings [2]. And yeah, they're working on their own cookie replacement too [3].
Facebook meanwhile is tracking you across the web through its own re-targeting tech [4] and even your cursor movements on its site [5]
In fact, when companies like Google, Facebook and Microsoft want to dump cookies [6], I'd argue that we're already past the point where a Firefox can make a difference.
IMHO Internet tracking has become like fast food. A meaningful difference will only come when average users start caring about their privacy and are willing to make conscious choices for it.
[0] - http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2012/08/micros...
[1] - http://adage.com/article/digital/microsoft-cookie-replacemen...
[2] http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2411916,00.asp
[3] http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/09/17/google-cookies...
[4] - http://adage.com/article/digital/facebook-launches-retargeti...
[5] - http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2426602,00.asp
[6] - http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB1000142405270230468250...
IMHO Internet tracking has become like fast food. A meaningful difference will only come when average users start caring about their privacy and are willing to make conscious choices for it.
Definitely agreed. Unfortunately, I think it's much harder for your average web user to make that choice than for your average person to avoid fast food: Everyone knows what and where a grocery store is and that fast food is not usually nutritious, but I don't believe most web users understand how many browser options there are or, in many cases, what that actually means or what other means could help preserve their privacy, if they understand this particular privacy issue in the first place.
Even simpler anti-analogy, everyone know when, where, and what they ate; most people have no idea who is tracking you how and when.
Another issue is that people for most part don't seem to have an issue with tracking ("I have nothing to hide", "I trust them not to do evil", etc.), whereas the adverse health effects of bad food and obesity are well know and easily observed.