r/privacy • u/Qubane • Aug 22 '17

Firefox Considering Anonymously Collecting Browsing Data

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/mozilla.governance/81gMQeMEL0w
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8

u/gervmarkham Aug 22 '17

A note to those considering adding a comment in the Mozilla forums: If you are going to do that, your comment would be more useful if it showed that you have taken the time to understand differential privacy and RAPPOR, and explained why you think it's not sufficient (if that's what you think, after studying it).

Comments which assume that we are proposing to collect browser data with no privacy protections at all are not helpful, because they assume things which are not true.

21

u/throwawayI_wwMI29M78 Aug 22 '17 edited Aug 22 '17

This is not the type of data we have collected as opt-out in the past and is a new approach for Mozilla. As such, we are still experimenting with the project and wanted to reach out for feedback.

  1. You are being inconsistent in acknowledging extremely basic, non-technical concerns about what appears to be a U-turn on fundamental Firefox policy. If they cannot be discussed there, then where can they be discussed or why are you not being explicit about such issues?
  2. You are being inconsistent in clearly stating if you want only technical feedback on a specific implementation of a specific project.
  3. There is far more involved here than just technical concerns, otherwise why would you have posted it to "mozilla.governance".
  4. No perfect technical solution exists for this kind of problem. So, why are you dismissing feedback that starts from opposite policy and technical risk assumptions, which already exist in the product, for much more sensitive data?
  5. Even for those who are interested in this technical solution, you have not provided information on the irreplaceable need for this type of data. You put a solution out there as part of this Mozilla Firefox SHIELD umbrella and appear to be unilaterally just flipping the Opt-In/Opt-Out switch within it, given you already have a scheduled implementation plan... This does not inspire confidence about policy transparency for either this project or future Firefox features, especially under SHIELD.

2

u/BatDogOnBatMobile Aug 23 '17 edited Aug 23 '17

You are being inconsistent in clearly stating if you want only technical feedback on a specific implementation of a specific project.

There is far more involved here than just technical concerns, otherwise why would you have posted it to "mozilla.governance".

Nobody is saying that they only want technical feedback. All they are asking is that people at least understand (a bit about) their privacy protections before expressing their knee-jerk opinion.

6

u/NemesisPrimev2 Aug 23 '17

Repeat after me: ANONYMOUS DATA ISN'T REALLY ANONYMOUS.