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"Privacy-Preserving" Attribution: Mozilla Disappoints Us Yet Again (blog.privacyguides.org)

submitted 4 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] Lodra 142 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (14 children)

So I read a bit of Mozilla’s documentation about this feature. It sounds like they’re trying to replace the current practices with something safer. Honestly, my first thought is that this is a good thing for two reasons.

It’s an attempt to replace cross site tracking methods, which are terrible
Those of us that fight against ads, tracking, etc. can simple use typical methods to block the api. Methods that were already using (I think)

If both of these are true, then it could be a net positive for the world. Please tell me if I’m wrong!

[–] [email protected] 28 points 4 months ago (4 children)

Sadly, tracking is the only way to perform attribution without help from the browser. Tracking is terrible for privacy, because it gives companies detailed information about what you do online. While Firefox includes many privacy protections that make it more difficult for sites to track you online (Enhanced Tracking Protection, Total Cookie Protection, Query Parameter Stripping, and many other measures), there’s a huge incentive for sites to find ways around these in order to perform attribution. Our hope is that if we develop a good attribution solution, it will offer a real alternative to more objectionable practices like tracking.

"Our hope is, that if we transfer the bank robber some of our money in advance, they'll not come in and rob all of it."

No! Jail the fucker!

[–] Lodra 16 points 4 months ago (1 children)

While I appreciate your sentiment, this just isn’t realistic in the current state of the world. First, you need to make these kind of tactics illegal enough to incarcerate a person. Second, you need to expand and enforce this law globally. We definitely need this level of global cooperation, but are also soooo far away from achieving it

[–] [email protected] 12 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I mean they don't have to literally jail advertisers (although I'd love that). I'd agree with hefty fines. Which, while not perfect, several EU laws have shown is possible unilaterally (e.g. Apple allowing third party app stores in the EU, albeit kicking and screaming).

I agree that it's a mountain to climb, but we sure won't reach the summit if we walk in the other direction.

[–] Lodra 7 points 4 months ago (1 children)

The EU is a large enough governing body to have a significant global impact. And I truly appreciate the progress it makes on important subjects.

However, it’s still not effective enough. Apple doesn’t allow third party app stores in countries outside the EU.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 4 months ago

The EU can't "save" the rest of the world alone, true. All I'm saying is it doesn't necessarily require the entire globe to cooperate to outlaw something just because it's on the Internet. And that Mozilla scheme won't save you either.

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