Browser Makers Ask EU to Allow Default Tracking Refusal

Mozilla, DuckDuckGo, and Vivaldi have petitioned the European Union to allow web browsers to disable user tracking by default and enable browser extensions to manage user consent regarding website tracking activities. This move aims to bolster user privacy.

The three privacy-focused browser developers outlined their demands in a joint statement concerning upcoming EU digital regulations. They argue that requiring users to consent to tracking cookies on a per-website basis leads to "consent fatigue," which they contend is not a genuine choice. Instead, they advocate for browser-level privacy protections that automatically prevent tracking.

The statement calls on the EU to permit the use of browser extensions for managing user consent without making it mandatory. The goal is to enhance user choice and avoid penalizing browsers inherently designed with privacy in mind. The trio suggests that current provisions, intended to be binding, allow for overly broad collection of data without consent for "low-risk" purposes, thereby depriving users of meaningful control over their information.

Furthermore, the browser makers demand that all standards for privacy signals be developed through an open, multi-stakeholder governance model. This should include regulators, browsers, civil society, consumer organizations, and privacy experts. They believe that no single browser vendor, operating system, or platform should unilaterally define how privacy signals operate.

The requests were made as part of discussions around an EU regulatory package designed to harmonize and rationalize the bloc's digital laws. The objective is to ensure future regulations support user privacy rather than increasing their exposure to tracking.