In this case, we will be shedding light on a widely used yet rarely discussed tracking technique: browser fingerprinting. Understanding how specific tracking methods work should not be the exclusive domain of those who seek to capitalize on your web activity.
(Curious how we did this? See the addendum.) It was created to serve as a reminder that we’re never truly anonymous online and, just as you have a right to privacy, you have a right to know when and how that privacy is being violated. The artwork above is a visual representation of your unique fingerprint, and it uses the same data as those corporations. This distinct, data-driven identifier is currently in the possession of countless corporate entities. This brings us to your digital fingerprint, which is made up of tiny bits of your personal data. This view is a risk to the fundamental values of liberty that define privacy as a right. However, even as awareness grows, many users regard online surveillance as the nature of the modern web, complacently agreeing to the terms and conditions and accepting constant monitoring as a necessary trade-off for a taste of convenience and personalization.
Even casual internet users clear their cookie cache now and again or use private browsing functions.
UNIQUE FINGERPRINT INSTALL
For this reason, savvy internet users install ad-blockers to ward off malicious cookies, while savvier users will use VPN software to mask their true IP addresses. In 2015, at least 90% of Americans reported that privacy is “very important” to them, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center. For the sake of capital, tech firms and advertisers track, identify, and monetize our every move across the digital landscape, touting this exploitation as a method for a more personalized and convenient digital experience.Įven so, there is an overwhelming understanding of the importance of privacy. While still free, the internet that was once predicated on privacy is now dominated by the information economy. Today, anonymity is no longer the default of the web. This piece was originally published in The Disconnect.
UNIQUE FINGERPRINT SERIES
In the fall, Nick will be leading a speaker series in Chicago on how date rules everything around us (the D.R.E.A.M series). Mozilla invited Chicago-based teacher and activist Nick Briz to explain how people are tracked, surveilled and monetized on the web.
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