Web browsers and opting out

As we reported yesterday, May 25 is the deadline for the implementation of the EU Privacy Directive across all member states. The US is also mulling over legislation that would effectively introduce a ‘bill of privacy rights’ codified in law. As everyone tries to figure out what privacy rights and privacy implementation looks like, two web browser makers have their own idea.

Today, Mozilla introduced Firefox 4. Along with all the new bells and whistles, Firefox has a ‘do not track’ feature that allows the user to opt-out of cookie tracking and behavioural advertising feature. On the Mozilla blog it says, “Firefox delivers industry-leading privacy and security features like Do Not Track and Content Security Policy to give users control over their personal data and protect them online.”

Microsoft has introduced a ‘do not track’ feature as well on their new IE 9 browser. But as the Wall Street Journal discusses today, Microsoft has yet to actually act upon any of the indications from users that they do not want to be tracked. Erich Andersen, deputy general counsel for Microsoft said in the US that “Our view is that that’s an industry discussion … the key thing is that a definition of ‘tracking’ needs to happen.” Even the Gary Kovacs, the CEO of Mozilla said in the same article that they won’t start ‘taking notice’ until many users chose not to be tracked.

The jury is still out on what will happen after May 25^th here in the EU or over in the US towards the end of the year. Industry self-regulation is still the strongest approach to solving an issue with many possible issues and outcomes. However, others like Jane Yakowitz think that any privacy regulation may decrease or diminish the usefulness of data altogether.

Comments

[Jeremy Poynton]

"Firefox has a ‘do not track’ feature that allows the user to opt-out of cookie tracking and behavioural advertising feature"

It would be great to know HOW to turn this on...

[Purlieu]

I hope this feature works better than Microsoft's effort in the mid/late 90's.
After criticism that Windows 9x was sending back details of your hard drive, cpu, etc to them, they introduced a tickbox "do not send my details to Microsoft" on new installs and service pack updates.
Guess what, it still sent them regardless.
Funny now but not at the time.

[mr X]

yes can someone please tell us how to turn it on!!
(no option to tick the box).

[Joe of Loath]

Go firefox > preferences (Or options, I think it's called on the Windows version) > advanced, and it's on that tab.

Me? I use noscript. Much more effective, they can't track you whether they want to or not.