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“This is why I use ad blockers and a pi-hole server” (twitter.com)

810 points by slater · 2454 days ago · 378 comments on HN

Article summary

The article's content is unavailable, but the discussion revolves around online tracking, ad blockers, and privacy concerns. Commenters share their experiences and opinions on the effectiveness of ad blockers and pi-hole servers in avoiding tracking. The conversation also touches on the role of legislation, such as GDPR, in regulating online tracking. The discussion highlights the ongoing cat-and-mouse game between trackers and those trying to avoid being tracked.

Main themes

  • online tracking
  • ad blockers
  • pi-hole servers
  • GDPR and legislation
  • browser features and tracking
  • first-party cookies
  • privacy concerns

What commenters say

  • Some argue that legal action is necessary to curb excessive tracking, while others believe that technical solutions are more effective.
  • The use of first-party cookies for tracking is seen as a potential loophole in current regulations.
  • There is disagreement on the effectiveness of GDPR in preventing tracking, with some citing fines as a deterrent and others arguing that they are too small to have an impact.
  • Some commenters propose that browsers should have built-in features to block tracking, such as auto-expiring first-party cookies or limiting requests to a single level.
  • Others suggest that a 'please track me' header with legally binding semantics could be a solution.
  • The discussion highlights the complexity of tracking and the need for a combination of technical and legal solutions to protect user privacy.
  • Some argue that the profit per tracked user is too small to sustain a criminal enterprise, while others point out that targeted tracking can be used for malicious purposes such as blackmail or espionage.