Firefox is the latest and most important browser to incorporate the Global Privacy Control. The GPC – mandatory for EU countries and California businesses – restricts companies from storing or sharing personal data.
Global Privacy Control on Firefox Nightly
Mozilla said the GPC is a prerelease feature available for experimental use in Firefox Nightly.
A Mozilla spokesperson said they were excited to see GPC getting traction both in California and Colorado and now that they expect sites to start honoring it, they want to start getting experience with it in the field.
Mozilla announced their Global Privacy Control is a pre-release feature available for experimental use in Firefox Nightly. Thus, Mozilla wants to see sites start honouring the privacy feature and they want to get experience with it out in the real world.
Despite the cookie consent banners on many websites, this solution helps users not being forced to opt out on every site. So they can choose once they don’t want websites to track them and sell their personal data.
Mozilla was one of the first supporters of the CCPA and the CPRA, becoming an early member of the Global Privacy Control. This gives consumers more control over their data, as well as a framework for enforcing their rights.
Back in 2019, Mozilla released Enhanced Tracking Protection by default. Since then, it expanded its arsenal of anti-tracking tools to protect users’ data. Also, it has been advocating for strong legislation and enforcement to protect online privacy.
How it works?
In order to turn on Global Privacy Control in Firefox Nightly, users have to type about:config their browser’s URL bar. Then, they should navigate to the Privacy section of the Preferences menu. Finally, they just have to toggle `privacy.globalprivacycontrol.enabled` to true. Also, a visit of the Global Privacy Control website lets users see if they have enabled this feature.
A number of browsers have already incorporated the feature into their service. Thus, according to Washington Post, Electronic Frontier Foundation and Comsumer Reports try to force websites into privacy compliance.
Still, California was one of the few states to consider GPC an acceptable method for users to opt-out of sales.
So, according to the former California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, companies should accept the enabled GPC as a “valid consumer request.” Thus, he mentioned that GPC “satisfies this legal requirement & protects privacy.”
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