Slashdot Mirror


Mozilla Backtracks On Third-Party Cookie Blocking

An anonymous reader writes "Remember when Mozilla announced that it would soon block third-party cookies by default? Not so fast. According to a new behind-the-scenes report in the San Francisco Chronicle, 'it's not clear when it will happen — or if it will at all.' Mozilla's leadership is apparently no longer committed to the feature, and the related Cookie Clearinghouse collaboration is delayed well into 2014. Who's to blame? According to Dan Auerbach, Staff Technologist at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, 'The ad industry has a ton of people, basically lobbyists, who spent a lot of time trying to convince Mozilla this was bad for the economy... I think they were somewhat successful.' Not a good showing for the purportedly pro-user organization."

11 of 173 comments (clear)

  1. Re:This is bad by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Is it? You can still enable blocking of third-party-cookies, can't you? As long as most people can be tracked easily, advertisers may leave us "advanced users" alone. Not worth the effort. When everybody blocks third party cookies, how long do you think it will take for the advertisers to track everybody in a different way? Personally I think we should stop pushing privacy enhancements on people who clearly do not give a rats ass about being tracked. People still subscribe to Facebook and Whatsapp. Giving these people privacy enhancements is a waste. Pearls before swine.

  2. Re:Mozilla is not free by TWiTfan · · Score: 5, Informative

    More like ONE organization (Google). At one point, they were getting over 90% of their funding from Google alone. I imagine that may have had something to do with this reversal.

    --
    The cow says "Moo." The dog says "Woof." The Timothy says "Thanks, valued customer. We appreciate your input."
  3. Thick Skulls by rtkluttz · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Why should web marketers feel entitled to additional data just because of the media change. When I read a newspaper, marketers can't even tell I read an ad much less who I am or what I did before or after reading the ad. They have the ability to tell the browser requested the ad, that should be all info they get about anyone.

    --
    Digital is, by definition, imperfect. Analog is the way to go.
  4. Re:Mozilla is not free by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    What does the D stand for?

    Dvertisement

  5. Re:Anyone can disable third-party cookies ... but by 0123456 · · Score: 5, Informative

    That's odd, because I've been running with third-party cookies blocked for years with no obvious problems.

  6. Re:This is great news! by 0123456 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You want a free & open internet? Remove you ad blocker & help pay for the services you use for free.

    We had a 'free and open internet' long before ads appeared.

    Concerned about your privacy with ads? Wait till everyone starts "pay-walling" their websites (eg WSJ, NYT etc) and you have to shell out cash AND give up your credit card.

    I have a simpler solution: I just don't go to paywalled sites.

  7. Re:This is bad by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    In a example everyone can relate to: if you don't know anything about mechanics it's ok for the gas stations to fuel you up with shitty gasoline. At the same price. Everyone deserves a certain amount (the more the better in my pov) of passive protection, even if they engage in risky behavior (use Facebook for one).

  8. Re:This is great news! by gstoddart · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The internet runs on advertising

    No, the internet runs on computers. It's being co-opted by advertisers.

    and 3rd cookies are a HUGE part of tracking profitability for all online advertisers.

    Not my fucking problem. I don't give a rats ass about the profitability of online advertisers, I care about my privacy.

    Concerned about your privacy with ads? Wait till everyone starts "pay-walling" their websites (eg WSJ, NYT etc) and you have to shell out cash AND give up your credit card.

    Or stop using them. The day I need to pay money to a website and provide them with credit card details is the day I stop visiting a site.

    --
    Lost at C:>. Found at C.
  9. Third Party Cookies and Safari by PineHall · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Apple's Safari already blocks third party cookies by default, and it is the number one browser on mobile devices. So why is the advertising industry is fighting hard to prevent Mozilla from blocking third party cookies by default while keeping quiet about Apple's Safari browser? Something is wrong here!

  10. Re:Mozilla is not free by bzipitidoo · · Score: 5, Funny

    What does AD stand for?

    After Disgrace. It's the period of time that follows Before Commercialization.

    --
    Intellectual Property is a monopolistic, selfish, and defective concept. It is "tyranny over the mind of man"
  11. Re:What if they *are* right? by Tom · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I haven't really looked into it,

    Maybe you should, then, before posting nonsense. Neither Facebook nor OpenID nor any of the similar schemes use 3rd party cookies.

    --
    Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org