Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

For advertising, Firefox now collects user data by default

heise.de

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

111–120 of 523 posts

Re: For advertising, Firefox now collects user data by default

#111

Post by rstarast »

latexr wrote: post #87
eco wrote: post #17

The CTO of Mozilla just posted on /r/firefox about this: https://old.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/1e43w7v/a_word_abo...

> It’s clear in retrospect that we should have communicated more on this one What isn’t clear, in retrospect or otherwise, is why companies/apps/services need to keep learning this lesson. The user outcry was utterly predictable from even before the first web article was out. The fact that no one with decision power at Mozilla saw it coming is worrying: either they have zero understanding of people’s concerns for pri…

Who's to say this "my bad, we'll do better next time" isn't part of the playbook?

Re: For advertising, Firefox now collects user data by default

#112

Post by ethagnawl »

DaoVeles wrote: post #31

So where can I donate to Ladybird browser development? Before anyone tries to respond with it. It is https://donorbox.org/ladybird

Thanks. I just donated to Ladybird and Servo.

Here's the Servo link: https://servo.org/sponsorship/

Re: For advertising, Firefox now collects user data by default

#114

Post by chiefalchemist »

Klonoar wrote: post #101
latexr wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It’s clear in retrospect that we should have communicated more on this one What isn’t clear, in retrospect or otherwise, is why companies/apps/services need to keep learning this lesson. The user outcry was utterly predictable from even before the first web article was out. The fact that no one with decision power at Mozilla saw it coming is worrying: either they have zero understanding of people’s concerns for pri…

> The fact that no one with decision power at Mozilla saw it coming is worrying: either they have zero understanding of people’s concerns for privacy or they don’t care. Or the third option: they feel the tradeoff of HN & co's criticism style is not a big deal in the end. Criticism of Mozilla in general is very warranted right now, but the way(s) in which everyone is doing so just feels very out of touch with the act…

> This thread in general feels like it leaves Mozilla no room to experiment or find any form of growth.

Mozilla is welcome to experiment. The issue here is:

- The default opts the client in instead of the client making that choice to be a Guinea pig in the experiment

- I get emails almost weekly that amount to Mozilla playing the role of internet privacy police. They *are* well aware of the rights and wrongs. Are they going to call out themselves?

- As for growth? How about paid pro-privacy email hosting? And a suite of applications (a la Google docs)? Advertising might not be going away but there are still opportunities that align with Mozilla's ideals and brand... And they're too busy being hypocritical internet police???

Re: For advertising, Firefox now collects user data by default

#115

Post by sumuyuda »

albeva wrote: post #94

And there goes my trust in Firefox out the window... Safari seems to be the only decent, privacy-focused browser left on the market. Until the Ladybird arrives.

The fact that Apple killed any real third party extensions ended my use of Safari.

Re: For advertising, Firefox now collects user data by default

#116

Post by cqqxo4zV46cp »

Klonoar wrote: post #101
latexr wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It’s clear in retrospect that we should have communicated more on this one What isn’t clear, in retrospect or otherwise, is why companies/apps/services need to keep learning this lesson. The user outcry was utterly predictable from even before the first web article was out. The fact that no one with decision power at Mozilla saw it coming is worrying: either they have zero understanding of people’s concerns for pri…

> The fact that no one with decision power at Mozilla saw it coming is worrying: either they have zero understanding of people’s concerns for privacy or they don’t care. Or the third option: they feel the tradeoff of HN & co's criticism style is not a big deal in the end. Criticism of Mozilla in general is very warranted right now, but the way(s) in which everyone is doing so just feels very out of touch with the act…

[flagged]

Re: For advertising, Firefox now collects user data by default

#117

Post by qwertox »

cqqxo4zV46cp wrote: post #108
qwertox wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Most users just accept the defaults they’re given, and framing the issue as one of individual responsibility is a great way to mollify savvy users while ensuring that most peoples’ privacy remains compromised. Cookie banners are a good example of where this thinking ends up. The problem we currently have with cookie banners is thanks to the browser vendors not caring about it. An API could exist which a page can qu…

What!? What’s the benefit of this from a site’s POV? Your technical solution is completely out of touch with real goals and incentives.

He's talking about cookie banners. The issue with cookie banners are the dark patterns, but the end-goal is to obtain permission from the user to set cookies.

This requirement to constantly ask the user while using these dark patterns is what makes normal people just give up and "accept".

If the page is expected to ask the browser which preferences the user has set regarding the cookies, then this problem is gone, because the page no longer is expected to ask a person via a popup.

Re: For advertising, Firefox now collects user data by default

#118

Post by n_plus_1_acc »

Piraty wrote: post #113

If 1% of regular Firefox users just donated the equivalent of 10USD per year to mozilla, they would not have the need to find ...eyebrow-raising... ways to earn money.

On the other hand, people would be more inclined to donate money if they could trust Mozilla to value the privacy of their users, which is one of the biggest reasons people choose FF in the first place.

Re: For advertising, Firefox now collects user data by default

#119

Post by htiawe »

wkat4242 wrote: post #9
kwhitefoot wrote: post #4

So how do we turn it off? Found it. Go to settings, type privacy into the search box. The last item under "Firefox Data Collection and Use" is a check box labelled "Allow websites to perform privacy-preserving ad measurement". It was already unchecked on mine when I looked just now.

Yeah on desktop. On mobile it's a lot harder. It's still turned on and you have to use a workaround to enable about: config because they don't bother to make this option visible in settings.

I recently started using Firefox again, because of all the madness around Chrome and the change of how add-ons (mainly uBlock and similar) would work.

And it felt kinda good, i actually thought that Firefox was different and a part of "the good guys", now it doesn't feel that way anymore. Sigh.

Re: For advertising, Firefox now collects user data by default

#120

Post by TheSameOlTrick »

rstarast wrote: post #111
latexr wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It’s clear in retrospect that we should have communicated more on this one What isn’t clear, in retrospect or otherwise, is why companies/apps/services need to keep learning this lesson. The user outcry was utterly predictable from even before the first web article was out. The fact that no one with decision power at Mozilla saw it coming is worrying: either they have zero understanding of people’s concerns for pri…

Who's to say this "my bad, we'll do better next time" isn't part of the playbook?

This.

I've seen enough of:

Step 1 - outrageous move Step 2 - apologize, progressively pull back Step 3 - people spread word they made it better Step 4 - stick to still outrageous but comparatively better "middle" move

To really give it any excuse anymore. And so have you. If "Unity" tells you nothing... I'd like that rock, please, I'll need it to survive the incoming 4 years of social media.

Post reply on HN