Firefox "Do Not Track" Header Detailed For Online Privacy

Mozilla's Global Privacy and Public Policy Leader, Alex Fowler, has detailed the upcoming Do Not Track functionality headed to Firefox. As Mozilla envisages it, the system "allows users to set a browser preference that will broadcast their desire to opt-out of third party, advertising-based tracking by transmitting a Do Not Track HTTP header with every click or page view in Firefox."

Mozilla believes this is a more inclusive and comprehensive route than maintaining blacklists or cookies, though it does recognize that it relies on sites to fall into line and respect the "Don Not Track" user preference. The approach differs from Microsoft's strategy for IE9, which will rely on "anti-tracking lists" onto which users can put approved and unapproved sites.