RE: WSJ - browser adoption of do not track

The problem with all this industry self regulation is that it remains
fractured and unstable.  

The number of places to click and make selections as to preferences remains
large, even if the latest initiatives like
http://www.youronlinechoices.com.au/ (and equivalents elsewhere) reduce the
number of places to visit.

And too many of these arrangements rely on unstable constructs for decisions
to remain in place for any length of time, eg because they rely on easily
deleted cookies.

And now, in addition to all that, are we watching competition beginning to
break up the recent initiatives, so that one browser or offering gets a
competitive edge?  

To be effective, offerings such as Google's "Keep My Opt-Outs" need to be
available for all browsers not just one.  

And now the once reliable Google Advertising Cookie Opt-out permanent cookie
hasn’t been updated to work on Firefox v4. While a short delay might be
acceptable, the delay since Firefox v4 was released is getting pretty long!
Why the delay?

Consumers don’t want to have to fix all their browsers frequently and
separately in order simply to keep in place decisions that they have already
made and expressed.  Or have to change from one browser to another because a
previously workable arrangement ceases to work after an update.

Some may argue that self regulation may lead to faster innovation.  On the
other hand, it bewilders the everyday user.  Regulation or development and
enforcement of workable standards may be the only way to deliver to the
everyday user something they can actually use and rely upon week in and week
out.

Malcolm Crompton

Managing Director
Information Integrity Solutions Pty Ltd
ABN 78 107 611 898

T:  +61 407 014 450

MCrompton@iispartners.com  
www.iispartners.com 




-----Original Message-----
From: public-privacy-request@w3.org [mailto:public-privacy-request@w3.org]
On Behalf Of Frederick.Hirsch@nokia.com
Sent: Thursday, 14 April 2011 10:54 PM
To: public-privacy@w3.org
Cc: Frederick.Hirsch@nokia.com
Subject: WSJ - browser adoption of do not track

from the Wall St Journal 14 April 2011

[[
Apple Inc. has added a do-not-track privacy tool to a test version of its
latest Web browser for keeping customers' online activities from being
monitored by marketers.

The tool is included within the latest test release of Lion, a version of
Apple's Mac OS X operating system that is currently available only to
developers. The final version of the operating system is scheduled to be
released to the public this summer. Mentions of the do-not-track feature in
Apple's Safari browser began to appear recently in online discussion forums
and on Twitter.

The move by the Cupertino, Calif., company leaves Google Inc. as the only
major browser provider that hasn't yet committed to supporting a do-no-track
capability in its browser, called Chrome. Microsoft Corp. and Mozilla Corp.
both offer do-not-track features in their latest browsers.

A spokesman for Google, which is a major player in online advertising, said
the company "will continue to be involved closely" in industry discussions
about do-not-track. In the meantime, he said Google offers an add-on program
for Chrome that users can download called "Keep My Opt-Outs" that will let
users request that their data not be used for targeted advertising.

....
]]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703551304576261272308358858..ht
ml?mod=djemTEW_t

regards, Frederick

Frederick Hirsch
Nokia

Received on Saturday, 16 April 2011 08:32:18 UTC