[charles_f]

It's interesting that we're so used to be tracked at this point that no one balks at being opted-in by default. A flag called DO_NOT_TRACK sounds like a good idea, but also suggests the default is CONSENT_TO_TRACK=1, and I find that creepy.

[shevy-java]

I actually consider such a flag to be problematic. I don't want to give out any information - of course I never want to be tracked, but marking this via an ENV variable alone, already makes zero sense to me. I don't understand people who like that while claiming they do not want to be tracked; if they give that information, then this means they are marked.

[d2p]

> A flag called DO_NOT_TRACK sounds like a good idea, but also suggests the default is CONSENT_TO_TRACK=1, and I find that creepy.

It could also be used to prevent showing an opt-in notification at all even in software that requires opt-in.

[rapidaneurism]

It is a bit sad that in privacy enthusiastic consent is understood as failing to shout 'NO' in the right way.

[croes]

Nitpicking: There is no being opted-in by default, that‘s opt-out

[marshray]

Hmm. I read a semantic difference between "opt-out" and "being opted-in by default".

The first denotes an abstract policy, the second an action that has been done to you in which you were a passive participant. And this is all about our lack of agency.

You may prefer that we speak of abstract policies. But to say "there is no" about an otherwise sensible phrase implies that you think that we have agreed to stay within some fixed set of terminology. I didn't think that we had.

[croes]

If you hadn’t the option to go in it is not opt-in.

If so put you in by default but you have the option to go out it’s opt-put

So this is either opt-out or not a option at all

[marshray]

The law of the excluded middle does not create semantic problems for the phrase "being opted-in by default".

Human language does not work like that.

[croes]

There is no excluded middle.

You have to turn it on = Opt-In

You have to turn it off = Opt-Out

Just because the option was added later on doesn’t change that.

Or tell me what’s the difference for me between Opted-In by default and Opt-Out

[thephyber]

Do not track WHEN?

This flag is sent by my browser when I connect to SOMEONE ELSE’s SERVER.

The internet only took off because the primary business model which ran on ads and derivative information that servers do to their users.

It’s not fun. It’s not private or secure. It’s not illegal (in most jurisdictions for most industries). The flag exists as a response to the de facto and de jure state of the world, not some fairytale scenario.

[RugnirViking]

> The internet only took off because the primary business model which ran on ads

No? It took off before advertising was widespread as a primary or sole funding business model? Also there's literally nothing about advertising that requires data collection about users. Sure they love to do it, and they might even believe that it helps their profits in some way. But it's not inherent, they got along just fine with billboards and newspaper classifieds. TV ads never required personal information. Not did pre roll cinema ads, or radio adverts. Nobody was bemoaning in the streets that they couldn't possibly find anything to buy

[y42]

> The internet only took off because the primary business model which ran on ads and derivative information that servers do to their users.

quite the opposite I would argue:

https://nickyreinert.de/2020/2020-10-24-marketing-killed-the...

[mkl]

> This flag is sent by my browser when I connect to SOMEONE ELSE’s SERVER.

No, it's set in your command shell (e.g. bash) and tells CLI programs that support it to not connect to a server. It has nothing to do with browsers or ads. This is all very clear in the article.

[righthand]

You’re confusing the Internet with Google.

[thayne]

You can have ads without tracking.

[charles_f]

Article quite literally talks about tracking of cli tools you run on your own computer, half of which are to pilot products that you pay with your own money.

Get off your high horse.

[doginasuit]

I would advocate for not getting your horse high to begin with, or hide your stash better.

[dylan604]

Wow, I guess I grew up too close to actual cowboys that this is an interpretation I just never considered. Not sure why though as it's right there for the taking.

[tdeck]

The article is about local desktop / CLI tools that collect telemetry, not the web browser "do not track" standard.

[croes]

You can serve ads without tracking

[Griffinsauce]

> The internet only took off because the primary business model which ran on ads and derivative information that servers do to their users.

Arguable, on the other hand it did kill the internet. (or, almost so far, we'll see whether we rebound after decades of enshittification)

[lee_ars]

> This flag is sent by my browser when I connect to SOMEONE ELSE’s SERVER.

...and promptly, thoroughly ignored.