tracking-ISSUE-183 (Tk E ): Additional Tk header status value for EU [Tracking Preference Expression (DNT)]

tracking-ISSUE-183 (Tk E ): Additional Tk header status value for EU [Tracking Preference Expression (DNT)]

http://www.w3.org/2011/tracking-protection/track/issues/183

Raised by: Mike O'Neill
On product: Tracking Preference Expression (DNT)

In Europe and other jurisdictions the requirement will probably be that resource handlers accessed in a first-party context conform as a third-party. 

In these cases resource handlers could place a Tk header in the response with a status of 3 “The designated resource is designed for use within a third-party context and conforms to the requirements on a third party”, but the value and the text are confusing in this situation. Even though the overwhelming majority of these resource handlers will have been designed for use in a first-party context the Tk  response they emit portrays them as third-party.

This could cause confusion for implementers, leading to a loss of interoperability.

It might be better to insert a new single character status value ( in paragraph 5.2) for this situation for instance:

E     The designated resource may be designed for use in a first-party context but conforms to the requirements on a third party.

This is functionally similar to the 3 response but be more appropriate for the majority case in these jurisdictions.

Received on Sunday, 21 October 2012 23:28:10 UTC