Technology

Can someone shed some light for me? I'm a noob and I'm not sure I understand what is being proposed by google here. From what I can tell, they're proposing a cryptographically signed token that details information about a website user's 'environment', which I take to mean, their device OS and browser information, for the sake of verifying their humanity for website owners and advertisers. Isn't this sort of information already collected when a user visits a webpage, and doesn't google (or whomever) already collect and use this data (and more) for fingerprinting? How is this new proposal different, and something to be specifically concerned about?

I know there are anti-fingerprinting browser privacy addons that spoof this information, or prevent its collection. Is the concern that these tools will become inoperable?

For the record I don't like google or any company collecting any fingerprinting information, but it's already being done widely and in an unregulated manner, isn't it?

You're right, they can only try. They can express concerns, they can interpret goals a little differently to minimize harm, they can stretch the truth and make the project seem less feasible. None of that is going to do much if management is driving this through - loudly resigning in protest is the last move, and unless you have a big name it's not going to do much.

But you're wrong that I'm coming at this as a consumer - I'm a dev and I've been put in this situation before (although our work wasn't public).

You're also wrong on the googler front - most of them aren't making that much, better than they'd make most other places, but not life changing amounts

When you talk to a googler, there's a pride, and buried under that usually an insecurity. They got into the bleeding edge of tech... Or so they thought.

Last Thanksgiving I was talking to someone who worked for them, and once the conversation got technical I could see it in his eyes. I happened to be well versed in the topic, and so I started asking questions about his approach. And as much as I tried to hide it (he is family) he must've seen the disappointment on my face... He just deflated. He knew deep down what he was doing wasn't actually that cool or special - it's just a lie that he hears constantly

Working at a company like Google, you're constantly being told you're doing important work that could change the world. There's pride and status there. They've crafted a bubble where everyone reinforces that belief, that "what we're doing is good and important"

When you step outside that bubble and realize the technical community doesn't respect you, personally, not because of Google but because of your own actions? That pokes a person right in the place they put their self-worth

So, Google, the Overlord of the Internet apperantly, wishes to make his Kingdom an uninhabitable hellscape of constant ad harrassment that anyone who wants to keep their sanity will interact with as little as possible, only going there when necessary.

Ok, then. Good luck with that Business.

Just wondering, will one day Humanity, who has pretty much agreed in perfect unison completely independent from each other, since the golden age of television, that we all hate ads, finally be heard?

Really curious about how they'll try this shit in the EU. That'll be fun.