Verizon Wireless to Allow Complete Opt Out of Mobile ‘Supercookies’(bits.blogs.nytimes.com)
bits.blogs.nytimes.com
Verizon Wireless to Allow Complete Opt Out of Mobile ‘Supercookies’
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/01/30/verizon-wireless-to-allow-complete-opt-out-of-mobile-supercookies/?action=Click&contentCollection=Mobile&module=BlogPost-Title&pgtype=Blogs®ion=Body&version=Blog+Main
11 comments
s/strives/thrives
Who gave them permission to insert the cookies into our traffic in the first place? Hopefully whatever net neutrality law passes, bans carriers from interfering in such a way with the user's traffic or from tracking the users in any other way.
Pretty sure they were going with the "beg for forgiveness" option. They certainly have enough money and lawyers to go do whatever they want in the name of profit.
And it worked. Now they won't track 100 percent of the users, but they'll track "only" 95+ percent probably.
If Google put ads into the headers for your gmail, would that require your permission?
Were the ad to pose a security risk, and you, a paying user of Gmail would have no way to opt out, then sure.
Everything that tracks you is a security risk...the only question is whose security are we talking about? The plebeian masses don't deserve security...but the corporate overlords sure as hell need it. What do you think keeps them in power/?
Verizon is still giving out misinformation on this. A support representative confirmed to me in writing today that "As of February 1, 2015, Verizon Wireless will not send an identifier to third parties." However, it's still being sent, and a higher-up representative said later that a third-party identifier will currently always be sent, and there's no known timeframe for availability of an opt-out program.
I'm of a different mindset than to believe that this can be legislated away or fixed in any part of the transit.
We need to work toward (and we have nearly achieved) a situation where our endpoints are strong and intelligent enough that no manipulation of this sort is possible.
We need to work toward (and we have nearly achieved) a situation where our endpoints are strong and intelligent enough that no manipulation of this sort is possible.
This issue is entirely about connecting to an untrusted endpoint. No endpoint-based solution is possible. This has to be dealt with by ensuring that the transit provider won't sell you out.
Clearly we need less regulation to make sure this sane business thrives.