Computerworld - A day after Mozilla said it was
exploring a "Do Not Track" feature for Firefox,
Google today announced a Chrome add-on that
lets users opt out of tracking cookies that monitor
their movement and behavior online.
One privacy expert called Google's new extension
a "marginal improvement," but applauded the
browser maker for jumping into the privacy
discussion.
Chrome's "Keep My Opt-Outs" add-on leverages
the self-regulation efforts by the online advertising
industry to let users permanently opt out of ad
tracking from the companies that participate in
various programs, including the Network
Advertising Initiative, said Google in a blog post
Monday morning.
Google made it clear that it sees its strategy as
walking the line between privacy and keeping the
Web -- which largely relies on advertising --
afloat.
"This new feature gives you significant control
without compromising the revenue that fuels the
Web content that we all consume every day,"
said Sean Harvey and Rajas Moonka, a pair of
Chrome product managers.
Google also plans to build similar add-ons for
other browsers, and has released the code for the
Chrome extension as open-source so developers
can spot bugs or make modifications.
The free Keep My Opt-Outs extension can be
downloaded today from the Chrome Web Store.
On Sunday, Mozilla said it was working on a
different approach, one that relies on the Do Not
Track HTTP header, for Firefox, but did not spell
out a timetable to integrate the new technology
with the browser.
Both Google and Mozilla have followed Microsoft,
which last month said it would add what it called
"Tracking Protection" to Internet Explorer 9 (IE9)
with the release candidate, or RC, build of its next-
generation browser. According to reports,
Microsoft will ship IE9 RC this Friday.
Although the three browser makers are each
exploring different strategies, that's a good thing,
said Justin Brookman, the director of consumer
privacy at the Center for Democracy &
Technology (CDT), a digital rights advocacy
group based in Washington, D.C.
"It's useful to explore different ways to address
privacy on the Internet," said Brookman. "I see
this as [akin to] beta testing by the browser
makers, whether it's the Do No Block HTTP
header or Microsoft's blocklist, because they need
to get data around how things really work."
While Brookman was less impressed with
Google's idea -- he called it a "marginal
improvement" and "a step in the right direction"
-- he gave the search company credit for doing
something. "Like the others, they're exploring
options," Brookman said.
It's too early to say which strategy will dominate,
or even if one does, Brookman added, but he
expects to see continued movement on privacy
during 2011.
Source: Http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9206061/Google_jumps_into_Do_Not_Track_debate_with_Chrome_add_on?taxonomyId=84
exploring a "Do Not Track" feature for Firefox,
Google today announced a Chrome add-on that
lets users opt out of tracking cookies that monitor
their movement and behavior online.
One privacy expert called Google's new extension
a "marginal improvement," but applauded the
browser maker for jumping into the privacy
discussion.
Chrome's "Keep My Opt-Outs" add-on leverages
the self-regulation efforts by the online advertising
industry to let users permanently opt out of ad
tracking from the companies that participate in
various programs, including the Network
Advertising Initiative, said Google in a blog post
Monday morning.
Google made it clear that it sees its strategy as
walking the line between privacy and keeping the
Web -- which largely relies on advertising --
afloat.
"This new feature gives you significant control
without compromising the revenue that fuels the
Web content that we all consume every day,"
said Sean Harvey and Rajas Moonka, a pair of
Chrome product managers.
Google also plans to build similar add-ons for
other browsers, and has released the code for the
Chrome extension as open-source so developers
can spot bugs or make modifications.
The free Keep My Opt-Outs extension can be
downloaded today from the Chrome Web Store.
On Sunday, Mozilla said it was working on a
different approach, one that relies on the Do Not
Track HTTP header, for Firefox, but did not spell
out a timetable to integrate the new technology
with the browser.
Both Google and Mozilla have followed Microsoft,
which last month said it would add what it called
"Tracking Protection" to Internet Explorer 9 (IE9)
with the release candidate, or RC, build of its next-
generation browser. According to reports,
Microsoft will ship IE9 RC this Friday.
Although the three browser makers are each
exploring different strategies, that's a good thing,
said Justin Brookman, the director of consumer
privacy at the Center for Democracy &
Technology (CDT), a digital rights advocacy
group based in Washington, D.C.
"It's useful to explore different ways to address
privacy on the Internet," said Brookman. "I see
this as [akin to] beta testing by the browser
makers, whether it's the Do No Block HTTP
header or Microsoft's blocklist, because they need
to get data around how things really work."
While Brookman was less impressed with
Google's idea -- he called it a "marginal
improvement" and "a step in the right direction"
-- he gave the search company credit for doing
something. "Like the others, they're exploring
options," Brookman said.
It's too early to say which strategy will dominate,
or even if one does, Brookman added, but he
expects to see continued movement on privacy
during 2011.
Source: Http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9206061/Google_jumps_into_Do_Not_Track_debate_with_Chrome_add_on?taxonomyId=84
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