Breakingviews - Google could buff its browser-privacy blemishes

(Reuters Breakingviews) - Google’s browser privacy could use more cover. Chrome’...

An illuminated Google logo is seen inside an office building in Zurich September 5, 2018. REUTERS/Arnd WIegmann

Chrome provided a flimsy excuse for why it won’t do more to protect its users. In August, its engineering director argued blocking cookies, which are text files of data that allow advertisers to target online consumers, would only encourage more opaque tracking techniques like digital fingerprinting. That method relies on information about a person’s device to push relevant ads. That’s why the most popular web browser still permits the offending cookies, albeit with limitations.

Safari and Firefox can afford to do more on privacy. Mozilla is a nonprofit while Apple relies on selling hardware like the iPhone. In August Safari threatened to put further restrictions on sites that try to circumvent its anti-tracking measures. Firefox is testing a version of its product that would block digital fingerprinting and third-party tracking cookies as a matter of course.

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