Re: Comments to W3C Tech Specs

Ms. Stocklin,

Thank you very much for taking the time to prepare a lengthy and detailed comment on the Tracking Preference Expression Last Call Working Draft.

The group has previously closed the issues associated with the definitions of "tracking"  and "parties." I understand that you disagree with the group's decisions, but you have not provided new information that would justify reopening the issue at this time. Moreover, we believe a broad conception that all third parties are "service providers" excepted from third party requirements under the standard is not a tenable or defensible interpretation, and is clearly contrary to the intent of the document. We have, however, adopted your suggestion of updating the TPE to include the TCS definition of "service provider."

Section 4 of the TPE provides requirements for user agents in ensuring that signals reflect the preference of the user. Additional requirements were suggested during the Last Call process; however, a proposal to include information about DNT-setting party within the DNT signal was rejected by the Working Group. You do not propose any other alternative approach.

See also: TPE Last Call comments, re: validation of user signals (issue-260)
https://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-tracking-comments/2015Jun/0008.html

Your suggestion of a tracking status of "r" is unnecessary; the tracking status "T" accomplishes the same result.

The group revised the TPE to allow intermediaries to signal that they are a gateway to multiple other third parties (and to send on the web request to those third parties despite the signal) in response to your and others' concerns.

The Chairs previously resolved a Call for Objections on the question of whether user agents must include a persistent DNT:0 setting; in response, several working group members filed a Formal Objection with W3C, which will be addressed with the Director.

Please let us know whether these explanations resolve your concerns.

Thanks,
Nick Doty, W3C
(for Tracking Protection Working Group Co-Chairs: Carl, Justin and Matthias)