Technology

Mozilla: Firefox browser removes “Do Not Track” feature

Firefox was the first browser to integrate the so-called “Do Not Track” function. As of Firefox version 135, the feature with which a browser user is supposed to be able to prevent tracking by certain websites will be abolished.

Firefox was the first browser to introduce Do Not Track in 2009

Like the colleagues from Windows reports noticed, Mozilla will be removing the “Do Not Track” feature (DNT) from its Firefox browser starting with version 135, which is expected to be the final version soon. Anyone using a Nightly version of Firefox 135 can already track these changes based on their browser settings. “Dot Not Track” is actually intended to help protect the user’s privacy.

In reality, however, it is just a kind of “recommendation” or request to the website you are visiting, asking, so to speak, not to take any tracking measures. This refers to the tracking of user activities across the site or sometimes several websites. In reality, however, only very few website operators adhere to the requests made by the respective browser with “Do Not Track” activated.

Nowadays, DNT has actually become a toothless tiger and has largely lost its originally intended use. Mozilla informed on a support website also officially about the planned deletion of the DNT function. Instead, users should select the “Request websites not to sell or share my data” option in their browser settings if they wish. This function uses the so-called “Global Privacy Control” (GPC). This alternative privacy feature is being respected by more websites and even made mandatory by law in some countries.