Do you feel violated by online advertisers who install tracking cookies in your browser to know better what to pitch to you? Mozilla and Google are taking a step to help you feel safer and more private by adding opt-out features to their browsers. Both are in the beginning phases - especially that of Mozilla, which relies on an http header that advertising companies would have to agree to use to offer users an opt-out choice.
Google's version works as an extention called Keep My Opt-Outs. Companies that sign up with AboutAds, a self-regulatory program for the online advertising industry, agree to not track Chrome users who have KMOO installed.
It's great that the companies we rely on are starting to move forward in producing products that will help us feel more secure online. Having ads geared toward you based on your browsing history is creepy, and it's about time that we have some say in whether we want to let agencies stalk us or not. I wonder how many advertising agencies will be willing to voluntarily offer that option to internet citizens, though, as many of us would immediately opt out of allowing them to follow us into our online worlds.
What do you think about these steps that Mozilla and Google are taking to help you control your privacy online? Do you think that tougher, enforced rules for advertisers will need to be put into place for the system to work?
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