EFF Warns Chrome Users: Disable Privacy Sandbox to Protect Your Data from Google Tracking

The EFF urges Chrome users to disable Privacy Sandbox settings or switch browsers to protect privacy.
Privacy Sandbox includes technologies like Topics that track browsing to serve targeted ads.
Google calls it an improvement over third-party cookies but EFF says it's still tracking.
EFF recommends disabling Topics, Site-suggested ads, and Ad measurement in Chrome settings.
Google contends EFF spreads fear about Privacy Sandbox, says it enables relevant ads without sharing identity.

theregister.com

Relevant topic timeline:

9/6/2023

Google Chrome pushes browser history-based ad targeting

Google's "Enhanced Ad Privacy" feature, which allows websites to target users with personalized ads based on their browsing history, is facing backlash as more people are being presented with the notification and expressing concerns about privacy. The feature, part of Google's Privacy Sandbox project, uses the Topics API to determine users' interests without relying on third-party cookies. However, some developers claim it may enable browser fingerprinting, and both Apple and Mozilla have expressed privacy concerns and declined to adopt it.

9/7/2023

Google's Cookie Killing Tech Is Now on Almost Every Chrome Browser

Google's Privacy Sandbox, a set of tools and settings to replace third-party cookies, is now available to 97% of Chrome users, with plans to reach 100% in the coming months, marking a significant step towards a more private web.

9/7/2023

Google Rolls Out Enhanced Safe Browsing for All Chrome Users, Raises Some Privacy Concerns

Google is deprecating its standard Safe Browsing feature in Chrome and moving users to Enhanced Safe Browsing, which provides real-time phishing protection but raises privacy concerns.

9/21/2023

DuckDuckGo CEO: Google Contracts Blocked Them from Being Default Search in Private Browsing

DuckDuckGo CEO testifies in federal court that Google's exclusive contracts hindered the search engine's efforts to become the default for private browsing modes in other browsers.

10/5/2023

Apple Passed on Buying Bing and Making DuckDuckGo Default Browser to Avoid Challenging Google

Apple has turned down opportunities to challenge Google's search engine dominance, including the chance to purchase Bing and make DuckDuckGo the default for Safari's private browsing mode, according to court transcripts unsealed in the US government's antitrust lawsuit against Google.

10/23/2023

Google Testing IP Address Privacy Features in Chrome to Limit Tracking

Google is planning to introduce IP Protection in its Chrome browser, utilizing network proxies to mask IP addresses and enhance privacy by limiting cross-site tracking, similar to Apple's iCloud Private Relay service for Safari, as part of its efforts to provide users with additional privacy and mitigate covert tracking.

Topics

Posted 9/30/2023, 11:39:00 AM

EFF Warns Chrome Users: Disable Privacy Sandbox to Protect Your Data from Google Tracking

The EFF urges Chrome users to disable Privacy Sandbox settings or switch browsers to protect privacy.
Privacy Sandbox includes technologies like Topics that track browsing to serve targeted ads.
Google calls it an improvement over third-party cookies but EFF says it's still tracking.
EFF recommends disabling Topics, Site-suggested ads, and Ad measurement in Chrome settings.
Google contends EFF spreads fear about Privacy Sandbox, says it enables relevant ads without sharing identity.

theregister.com

Relevant topic timeline:

9/6/2023

Google Chrome pushes browser history-based ad targeting

9/7/2023

Google's Cookie Killing Tech Is Now on Almost Every Chrome Browser

9/7/2023

Google Rolls Out Enhanced Safe Browsing for All Chrome Users, Raises Some Privacy Concerns

Google is deprecating its standard Safe Browsing feature in Chrome and moving users to Enhanced Safe Browsing, which provides real-time phishing protection but raises privacy concerns.

9/21/2023

DuckDuckGo CEO: Google Contracts Blocked Them from Being Default Search in Private Browsing

DuckDuckGo CEO testifies in federal court that Google's exclusive contracts hindered the search engine's efforts to become the default for private browsing modes in other browsers.

10/5/2023

Apple Passed on Buying Bing and Making DuckDuckGo Default Browser to Avoid Challenging Google

10/23/2023

Google Testing IP Address Privacy Features in Chrome to Limit Tracking