(OT) Google
(OT) Google
Just a heads-up for anyone who uses Google/Google Chrome or has an Android phone that from tomorrow (Sunday 16th February) Google will allow advertisers to use digital fingerprinting. This decision is a pivot for Google, which in 2019 claimed fingerprinting “subverts user choice and is wrong”.
For those who don't know what this means...
The specifics are complex—these are the algorithms that ingest all the data signals you give off when browsing the internet on any device, some based on who you are—device, IP and credential identifiers, but also the sites you visit and apps you use as a map to be followed and analyzed.
Basically it will reduce people’s choice and control over how their information is collected. For users, this change undermines the limited control they had with cookie-based tracking. Clearing browser data or using privacy-conscious settings won’t prevent fingerprinting. The new policy makes evading surveillance harder.
The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office says that “when you choose an option on a consent banner or 'clear all site data’ in your browser, you are generally controlling the use of cookies and other traditional forms of local storage. Fingerprinting, however, relies on signals that you cannot easily wipe. So, even if you 'clear all site data’, the organisation using fingerprinting techniques could immediately identify you again. This is not transparent and cannot easily be controlled. Fingerprinting is harder for browsers to block and therefore, even privacy-conscious users will find this difficult to stop.”
Just felt I should share this on here as I expect it will impact a lot of people who use Shotsweb.
For those who don't know what this means...
The specifics are complex—these are the algorithms that ingest all the data signals you give off when browsing the internet on any device, some based on who you are—device, IP and credential identifiers, but also the sites you visit and apps you use as a map to be followed and analyzed.
Basically it will reduce people’s choice and control over how their information is collected. For users, this change undermines the limited control they had with cookie-based tracking. Clearing browser data or using privacy-conscious settings won’t prevent fingerprinting. The new policy makes evading surveillance harder.
The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office says that “when you choose an option on a consent banner or 'clear all site data’ in your browser, you are generally controlling the use of cookies and other traditional forms of local storage. Fingerprinting, however, relies on signals that you cannot easily wipe. So, even if you 'clear all site data’, the organisation using fingerprinting techniques could immediately identify you again. This is not transparent and cannot easily be controlled. Fingerprinting is harder for browsers to block and therefore, even privacy-conscious users will find this difficult to stop.”
Just felt I should share this on here as I expect it will impact a lot of people who use Shotsweb.
Re: (OT) Google
Forgive my ignorance but does the use of a VPN provide any mitigation against these changes do you know?
Unfortunately we have all been manipulated to a world where big tech oversee everything we do online. We now have little, in some cases, no choice but to conduct even the most personal of transactions electronically and that, of course, leaves a footprint somewhere. Even now, how many of us can confidently claim that we have managed to successfully reject all cookies before proceeding onto a website? This creeping intrusion can only be turbocharged over the next four years with the Orange Nutter in charge of the world.
I guess we’re left with the option of living off-grid without the need to access cash from a bank while evading every surveillance camera in streets, shops, front doors etc etc. I think we all know that we have no choice but to quietly surrender our personal sovereignty to the likes of Elon Musk….we have no more freedom than the average citizen of China.
Unfortunately we have all been manipulated to a world where big tech oversee everything we do online. We now have little, in some cases, no choice but to conduct even the most personal of transactions electronically and that, of course, leaves a footprint somewhere. Even now, how many of us can confidently claim that we have managed to successfully reject all cookies before proceeding onto a website? This creeping intrusion can only be turbocharged over the next four years with the Orange Nutter in charge of the world.
I guess we’re left with the option of living off-grid without the need to access cash from a bank while evading every surveillance camera in streets, shops, front doors etc etc. I think we all know that we have no choice but to quietly surrender our personal sovereignty to the likes of Elon Musk….we have no more freedom than the average citizen of China.
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Re: (OT) Google
Could you have more freedom by not having a smart/mobile phone and by using a pushbike or horse as transport?
Re: (OT) Google
Just took a little over 40 x years from 1984, didn’t it?
Re: (OT) Google
Apologies for the late reply.Gone West wrote: ↑Sun Feb 16, 2025 10:16 am Forgive my ignorance but does the use of a VPN provide any mitigation against these changes do you know?
Unfortunately we have all been manipulated to a world where big tech oversee everything we do online. We now have little, in some cases, no choice but to conduct even the most personal of transactions electronically and that, of course, leaves a footprint somewhere. Even now, how many of us can confidently claim that we have managed to successfully reject all cookies before proceeding onto a website? This creeping intrusion can only be turbocharged over the next four years with the Orange Nutter in charge of the world.
I guess we’re left with the option of living off-grid without the need to access cash from a bank while evading every surveillance camera in streets, shops, front doors etc etc. I think we all know that we have no choice but to quietly surrender our personal sovereignty to the likes of Elon Musk….we have no more freedom than the average citizen of China.
Unfortunately the only thing a VPN hides is your IP address and location which is just one piece of identifiable data that makes up your digital fingerprint.
Although it's impossible to avoid all tracking there are ways to limit the amount of data collected. Usually some of the worst culprits are the biggest companies such as Google, Meta (FB/IG etc), Microsoft and Amazon. Something I'd suggest is people use a privacy based browser such as Firefox (with add-ons such as Privacy Badger and UBlock Origin). Also ProtonMail would be a good choice if you'd want a private, secure, and encrypted email account.
Sadly surveillance capitalism is only going to get worse in the future. Although we can't completely stop it there are definitely steps we can all take to gain back some control and limit the damage.