RE: More blocking tools than DNT

Walter,

If you mean a site-initiated signal, rather than one implemented by the ad
blocker itself, no new tech is needed. All you need is a cookie with a
well-known name placed by the site(W3CTP=ADB=0). If it is in the Set-Cookie
header the ad blocker can see it before it decides to block script.  The
problem would be how would you validate sites i.e. it cannot be too easy for
sites to create a signal to switch off ad blocking without getting user
consent, or the ad blockers would just not implement it. Maybe there is a
role here for the Cookie Clearinghouse, validating sites which get user
consent before placing the (switch off ad blocking) cookie.

The signal should be independent of DNT because you might want to let your
user see (contextual) ads but let them choose not be tracked. You should be
able to place W3CTP=ADB=0&TPB=0 for instance, which would disable ad
blocking and enable (or not disable the default) third-party cookie
blocking.

It would be difficult to base the mechanism on a JavaScript API (setting an
instance variable for example) because ad blockers have to make their
blocking decisions before rendered script is executed.


Mike


-----Original Message-----
From: Walter van Holst [mailto:walter.van.holst@xs4all.nl] 
Sent: 30 July 2013 07:49
To: public-tracking@w3.org
Subject: Re: More blocking tools than DNT

On 29/07/2013 23:12, Rigo Wenning wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> http://gigaom.com/2013/07/29/privacy-as-the-next-green-movement-study-
> says-companies-will-compete-on-data-practices/
> 
> has a report on a study from Forrester that is allegedly coming out 
> next week where they show that 27% use ad blockers and only 18% use 
> DNT. I found this interesting. There is UGE in DNT. Should there be an 
> UGE in adblockers? I think so. At least I'm missing that feature. A 
> working DNT may get them there...

There are rudimentary UGE-mechanisms in the current crop of ad-blockers, but
none can be triggered by a website. So yes, that would be a perfect use case
for UGE.

Regards,

 Walter

Received on Tuesday, 30 July 2013 10:39:20 UTC