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Firefox 85 cracks down on supercookies

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Re: Firefox 85 cracks down on supercookies

#781
post #717

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because this is about websites, not companies. I'm not a company. Do my website use a different regulated subset of JavaScript than yours? If it is a company do they follow local rules or local for the hosting company? What about sites that incorporate sources from different locations? Do JavaScript library developers now have to create a version of their script for each countries regulation? Then the US regulation w…

I'm kind of confused here. Websites have to do everything you're saying today already. There are already different rules regarding data privacy, protected speech, etc. in different countries. How you choose to fulfill those obligations is up to you. But yes if your point is that it requires work to follow various different regulations, then of course you're correct. In fact, that's the whole point. The regulations ar…

My point is that regulation of web standards and browser features isn't possible - regulation of data collected is. If you try to regulate the technology (supercookie, java Script, etc.) it isn't the collectee that gets in trouble with the law but the developers of the browsers, libraries and websites like Mozilla, jQuery and "me". Regulating browser features is like regulating the maximum speed of cars. The ones punished for a "too fast Lamborghini" would then be the factory, not the owner driving 40 miles an hour. In other words if the US says a Lamborghini must have a maximum speed below 50mph, the EU says 80mph and a tiny island somewhere says 300mph, where do you think Lamborghini will incorporate the part of their factory that gets their cars certified? Then we have a run to the bottom like with tax evasion and the small developer gets strangled. Regulation doesn't belong on things like supercookies but on what you collect with them.

Re: Firefox 85 cracks down on supercookies

#782
post #729

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Regulation" mandated stupid cookie consent overlays on every damn European website. Thanks, regulation.

Nope, only on those that intend to abuse your personal information.

This is false, albeit depending on how broadly you define “personal information”. Regardless, the effect of the law has been clear.

Re: Firefox 85 cracks down on supercookies

#784

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a terrible analogy. Nobody forced you to go to the website that voluntarily decided to include the trackers.

If that website doesn't ask me if I want to allow those trackers then it's forcing them upon me without my consent. How am I supposed to know if a website has a tracker before I visit it?

They also don’t ask you if you want whatever specific content they are rendering that day to be rendered or not. Caveat visitor.

Re: Firefox 85 cracks down on supercookies

#785

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a terrible analogy. Nobody forced you to go to the website that voluntarily decided to include the trackers.

I can't tell if this argument is meant seriously but it is incredibly specious. If every single website operates in this fashion and modern life is nearly impossible without them, then consumers are presented with no option and it amounts to coercion.

It’s inconvenient for me to have to pay for things, that doesn’t mean stores are obligated to let me shop for free.

Re: Firefox 85 cracks down on supercookies

#786

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So tracking pixels in email clients aren’t a thing? Trust me, people will find ways around it without JS. Reinventing Flash, for a start.

Yes, tracking pixels aren't a thing (anymore). Gmail no longer loads them. Thunderbird no longer loads them. Most providers, offering online email, have already caught on. > Trust me, people will find ways around it without JS. Reinventing Flash, for a start. There is no need for that. Why bother, when you can write a mobile app in proper computer language and eliminate the middleman (browser)?

The fact Flash existed disproves your hypothesis.
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