Anti-Tracking Internet Browsers

Mozilla recently announced their new version of Firefox (Firefox 4) will include an anti-tracking or a ‘Do Not Track’ function allowing users to be in more control of what data is shown to them through Internet browsers.

Because of the recent Federal Trade Commission (FTC) endorsement addressing advertisers to limit the amount and use of behavioral Web tracking, the FTC countered their declaration by reaching out to the Web developers asking them to include anti-tracking functions into their new software.

It sounds to me that we, as the users, are going to have a choice if we want our searches to not be tracked. But wouldn’t you always want them not to be tracked?

According to Gallup, a data-driven news poll and public opinion research company, “about 85 percent of consumers surveyed said they want to be able to choose whether to be tracked as they surf.”

I can’t imagine going to Google, typing in my search of … ‘best plastic surgeons in New York City,’ seeing a ‘Do Not Track’ button and thinking, “na, I’m not going to press it. I want people I don’t know to know that I’m getting work done so they can send me a bunch of crap on boob jobs.”

Some say this new FTC ruling and mechanism will ruin and possibly end the Internet advertising business. Do you agree? Does tracking benefit the user? Will you always click the option to have the power?

Mozilla is claiming they are giving more power to their users when in fact if the FTC didn’t make their announcement, would we be seeing this feature?

It has been noted Microsoft is also working on these anti-tracking features for the Windows-based Internet Explorer 9. So pick it up Safari, I love you most.