An Overview of the Do Not Track Debate

jonathanmayer writes "The Verge is carrying an accurate and accessible overview of the Do Not Track debate. Quoting: 'With the fate of our beloved internet economy allegedly at stake, perhaps it's a good time to examine what Do Not Track is. How did the standard come to be, what does it do, and how does it stand to change online advertising? Is it as innocuous as privacy advocates make it sound, or does it stand to jeopardize the free, ad-supported internet we've all come to rely on?' The issues surrounding Do Not Track can be difficult to understand, owing to rampant rhetoric and spin. This article unpacks the tracking technology, privacy concerns, economic questions, and political outlook. Full disclosure: I'm quoted."

nice summary, shite website

[Anonymous Coward]

you want me to read about privacy on a website with no less than 4 web bugs and tracking code up the wazoo, not to mention all their shitty adverts
get off my web

Don't care.

[pla]

Who cares? Adblock; Ghostery; RandomUserAgent; and always, always, ALWAYS lie when asked for things like your DOB or zip code.

Have fun fulling your DB with useless crap trying to "track" me, Marketers.

Cliff notes:

[fuzzyfuzzyfungus]

Team Marketing is on tactical thermonuclear crack. I don't know where the hell they got it; but damn if it isn't the good stuff. Consider the below, from a 'Rachel Thomas' working on behalf of the "Direct Marketing Association":

"Marketing fuels the world. It is as American as apple pie and delivers relevant advertising to consumers about products they will be interested at a time they are interested. DNT should permit it as one of the most important values of civil society. Its byproduct also furthers democracy, free speech, and – most importantly in these times – JOBS. It is as critical to society – and the economy – as fraud prevention and IP protection and should be treated the same way.

Marketing as a permitted use would allow the use of the data to send relevant offers to consumers through specific devices they have used. The data could not be used for other purposes, such as eligibility for employment, insurance, etc. Thus, we move to a harm consideration. Ads and offers are just offers – users/consumers can simply not respond to those offers – there is no associated harm.

Further, DNT can stop all unnecessary uses of data using choice and for those consumers who do not want relevant marketing the can use the persistent Digital Advertising Alliance choice mechanism. This mechanism has been in place for 2 years."

Yes, she actually said that [w3.org]. In public.

Firefox community

[Synerg1y]

Has got you covered... some what:

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/firegloves/ [mozilla.org]
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/betterprivacy/ [mozilla.org]
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/adblock-plus/ [mozilla.org]

Is it just me who's thought it f'in hilarious to be on a friends computer hit a website and get porn based ads & pop-ups? :)