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Mozilla Issues Do-Not-Track Guide For Advertisers

Posted by samzenpus on from the stop-following-me dept.

angry tapir writes "Mozilla has issued a do not track field guide to encourage advertisers and publishers to implement do-not-track (DNT) functionality. The guide contains tutorials, case studies and sample code to illustrate how companies use the DNT technology. Mozilla aims to inspire developers, publishers and advertisers to adopt DNT and wants to put the control over Internet tracking into the hands of users. The browser maker wants to put a stop to behavioral targeting and pervasive tracking on the Web. The guide can be found here (PDF)."

8 of 74 comments (clear)

  1. Good on Mozilla! by mfh · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I think it's nice Mozilla is doing the right thing and leading by example. Now that they have explained HOW to do this, we'll know that everyone not doing it simply decided not to.

    --
    The dangers of knowledge trigger emotional distress in human beings.
  2. pretty confused about this by Trepidity · · Score: 2

    Here is Mozilla's page on it. It appears that it just sends a "don't track me, pls" HTTP header if you enable it.

    If only a handful of people use it, I can imagine that larger and more-responsible advertisers might interpret that as an opt-out. I can't imagine them agreeing if it gets more pervasive, though. Many currently have opt-out methods, but they're deliberately a bit harder to use and less automatic. I would imagine that at the least, they'll try to set up some requirement for additional confirmation of the opt-out.

    And of course many advertisers will just ignore it: voluntary implementation of opt-out functionality will never catch the worst offenders.

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    10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10
    1. Re:pretty confused about this by Johann+Lau · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I'm not confused at all about this: This is a joke. It gives a false sense of having accomplished something, which arguable makes everything worse.

      In Germany, it's illegal to track personally identifiable info about your visitors you don't ABSOLUTELY need, much less keep it around (it can be argued you need to keep e.g. IP addresses it for a few days in case to be able to block attackers etc., but there isn't a lot of grey area). Sure, that still needs to be enforced, but at least that actually means something. Kinda like making rape illegal, instead of printing "please don't rape me" t-shirts. Geez.

    2. Re:pretty confused about this by Johann+Lau · · Score: 2

      But that's the point, it shouldn't matter if opting out is too complicated! If it's to complicated for these clowns, they should stop tracking altogether, or go to jail otherwise. Maybe they can write a book in jail about how complicated it all is, or try to rust the bars with their salty tears. Fuck these people, don't give them an inch. Somehow they got the idea that putting on a suit and making a bit of dirty money makes them human, and that idea needs to be stopped before it does further damage. You don't work together with organized crime to find a solution that works for everybody, you smoke them out. Or you fail to do that and suffer the consequences.

  3. Not Likely... by realsilly · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I would suspect that many advertisers will ignore the document because their cash cow is advertising. They want to be invasive. They want me the average consumer to see what they have to offer. What incentive is there for them to lose potential advertising revenue?

    On a personal level I feel advertising agencies have been allow too many liberties and have invaded the lives of consumers way too much. I can't stand them. I'd like to see advertisements go away. But they won't, and even telling them "Don't Want" is not going to work. Look how well that worked for the Do Not Call registry. I still receive calls and every time I say...."I'm on the do not call list...." I don't even get the courtesy from them to remove my number they hang up faster than I can request to be removed from their list. This gives them the lame excuse "the customer did not ask to be removed....". They ignore the Do Not Call list.

    Based on the above scenario, what makes me believe that an Ad company would follow the Do Not Track requests?

    --
    Life takes interesting turns, but the most interest is when you're off the beaten path.
  4. Re:Does anyone want to be tracked? by zero.kalvin · · Score: 3, Insightful

    But how will they screw us in this case ? Absolutely unacceptable. If you do not want to be tracked you should take measures beyond your technical capabilities to do so. Companies has right to make a profit out of you! Now I'll Cite few laws of free market and free speech, so you would understand why you shouldn't get a free ride of them, do you get me now ?

  5. Brilliant by Pokermike · · Score: 3

    Wow, a voluntary do not track program -- that'll catch on. The only reason the Do Not Call List worked out ok was because there were penalties for not using it and even then there was abuse and numerous work arounds and loopholes.

  6. Re:Does anyone want to be tracked? by Haedrian · · Score: 2

    Ghostery
    NoScript
    Adblock plus

    Done.