Google Chrome and Mozilla to Offer ‘Do Not Track’ Features
By: Arthur Cooper
Submitted: 2011-02-03 08:33:58 | Word Count: 664
I hate it, you hate it, we all hate it. It’s those annoying little advertisements that pop up at the most inconvenient time and seemingly knows more about you than you know about yourself. “Backpain?” The ad inquires. “Well…I guess I might’ve had a little back pain yesterday,” you think, “which is why I did a Google search and found out that…hey…wait a minute…are you stalking me?!” It’s intrusive to say the very least. I, for one, have never knowingly volunteered my “personal” (excuse my naivety but I do consider my searches personal) information up to any third party for the sole purpose of being sold to. I’m just not that type of girl. I’m much more of the “if I want you, I’ll find you” type in terms of my consumer approach. It seems that I have this in common with many internet browsers hence why, following pressure by the FTC, Google Chrome, along with Mozilla (Firefox) are trying to rectify the issue.
Thanks FTC! Thank you for stepping in on my behalf offering the gift of options. A ‘Do Not Track’ tool was proposed by the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection last month granting the option to stop those pesky little personalized advertisements catered to my web-surfing habits. Well, in regards to this option, I opt out! I opt, instead, for a piece of privacy, if you would be so kind.
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Also, let me not neglect to thank the Commerce Department who has done their part by calling for guidelines requiring that advertisers warn unsuspecting consumers about the information being collected through clicks and searches, and stating intended use. At this point that consumer is given the space to “opt out,” of the data collection. This doesn’t guarantee that the data won’t be collected for other purposes anyway, but it does ensure that the data is stored securely.
Some of you are probably scratching your heads thinking “I thought I eliminated the problem of unwanted advertisements through cookies.” Well, perhaps you did, kind of, but here’s what you may not have known: when cookies are cleared, so are your opt-out settings. With the new and improved tool, you can opt-out of all participating ad networks once and for all. The “downside”, according to Google product managers Sean Harvey and Rajas Moonka, “You may see the same ads repeatedly on particular websites, or see ads that are less relevant to you.” My response, “What do you mean I won’t see ads that are relevant to me?! That’s why I visit sites in the first place, to see who’s there advertising!” (Please sense my sarcasm). If it were up to me, ads (particularly the pop-ups) would cease to exist but a girl can only dream.
If I could be honest here I’d admit that though I hate advertisements, especially the creepy ones that know me like a personal friend, they have yet to stop me from searching and clicking. If the FTC never pushed for the option to opt-out, I’d just sit here closing out unwanted ads like I’ve been doing for so long. I will however offer the greatest thanks to the FTC, Google Chrome and Mozilla for caring. Thanks for caring enough about my annoyances to do something about it, guys. You (much like the advertisers) seem to know my likes and dislikes very well, but in your case, I greatly appreciate it.
