Mozilla Nixes Do Not Track: A Privacy Feature That Never Really Worked
Firefox 135 will say goodbye to the Do Not Track toggle, a feature so ignored, it might as well have been a ‘please track me’ button. Mozilla suggests users switch to Global Privacy Control, which, like DNT, is a polite request to websites that prefer to pretend they didn’t see you wave.
Hot Take:
Farewell, Do Not Track toggle! It seems your days of being ignored are numbered, much like my attempts to diet. Mozilla’s decision to pull this feature from Firefox 135 is akin to a magician retiring a trick that never fooled anyone. Who knew a button saying “please don’t track me” could be so widely ignored? Perhaps it’s time to send it off with the dignity it deserves—cue the world’s smallest violin.
Key Points:
- Mozilla plans to remove the Do Not Track (DNT) toggle from Firefox 135 by February 2025.
- DNT was largely ignored by websites, making it about as effective as a chocolate teapot.
- Mozilla is directing users towards Global Privacy Control (GPC) as a more robust alternative.
- GPC is better supported by legislation like California’s Consumer Privacy Act and the EU’s GDPR.
- Some browsers like Google Chrome do not support GPC, so users may need add-ons or different browsers.
Already a member? Log in here