> large scale blocking of cookies undermine people’s privacy by encouraging opaque techniques such as fingerprinting. With fingerprinting, developers have found ways to use tiny bits of information that vary between users, such as what device they have or what fonts they have installed to generate a unique identifier which can then be used to match a user across websites. Unlike cookies, users cannot clear their fingerprint, and therefore cannot control how their information is collected. We think this subverts user choice and is wrong.
the argument claims:
- people block cookies so fingerprinting methods had to be implemented
- cookies, unlike fingerprinting, can be deleted
- because cookies can be cleared people should just embrace them and keep their ability to choose
> large scale blocking of cookies undermine people’s privacy by encouraging opaque techniques such as fingerprinting. With fingerprinting, developers have found ways to use tiny bits of information that vary between users, such as what device they have or what fonts they have installed to generate a unique identifier which can then be used to match a user across websites. Unlike cookies, users cannot clear their fingerprint, and therefore cannot control how their information is collected. We think this subverts user choice and is wrong.
the argument claims:
- people block cookies so fingerprinting methods had to be implemented
- cookies, unlike fingerprinting, can be deleted
- because cookies can be cleared people should just embrace them and keep their ability to choose