Google, Facebook team up to take on Apple’s consumer privacy agenda

New Delhi: Google, in collaboration with Facebook, continues to work around Apple’s privacy tools in Safari to track end-users, an update to an antitrust lawsuit claims the search engine is also doing around the corner. may slow down other regulatory initiatives. Privacy.

As AppleInsider reports, a lawsuit was filed against Google by a group of attorneys general in December 2020, accusing the search engine of “market collusion to rig auctions”.

While the lawsuit largely focused on a deal between Google and Facebook to collaborate in the online advertising business rather than compete, an update accuses the two tech giants of an initiative by Apple to help protect the privacy of its users. Accused of trying to work.

The revised complaint, filed on October 22 and first reported by The Register, expands the original claim in some directions, and reveals more ways that Google may have attempted to destroy user privacy. .

As part of the complaint, it is alleged that Google and Facebook are “working together to improve Facebook’s ability to identify users who use browsers with cookies blocked on Apple devices and on Apple’s Safari browser.” So that a big tech company can be sidelined.” Attempts to compete by providing better privacy to users.

This was apparently prompted by the two companies working closely and integrating their SDKs “so Google can pass Facebook data for user ID cookie matching,” the complaint reads.

“They coordinated with each other to put publishers at a disadvantage by adopting unified pricing rules,” he said.

Apple has implemented a number of privacy safeguards in its products, including Safari, such as 2018’s Intelligent Tracking Protection 2.0.

The system requires that websites request tracking privileges from users on an opt-in basis and delete cookies after 30 days when the user stops visiting the respective sites as well as independent tracking of widgets and embeds does. Read also: IRCTC POD Stay: Indian Railways to soon introduce compact rooms at Mumbai station

A privacy report in Safari for macOS Big Sur offered users data on which trackers the website included, as well as advice on how many trackers were blocked from profiling a user over 30 days. Read also: LIC Plan: Get a profit of Rs 1 crore by investing in Jeevan Shiromani scheme, know details

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