Ethical Dilemma #7 - Who knew the term "cookies" meant more than just the delicious things you bake?
Before 1994, companies depending solely on marketing strategies to encourage more traffic in their stores. They invested money into television and magazine advertisements, rented highway billboards, and heavily relied upon the word of mouth. In 1994, however, Lou Montulli, a Netscape employee, developed tracking software called cookies. Here is a brief breakdown of how cookies work, according to Privacy.Net
- You pick up a tracking cookie on your favorite blog or shopping site. That cookie contains a unique ID that doesn’t identify you personally, but does identify your web browser.
- The owner of the shopping site signs up and pays for an advertising platform like Google.
- Google’s ads aren’t static; when you visit other websites that use Google ads to make money, the website sees the cookie and sends it to Google through the ad.
- Google sees the unique ID stored in the cookie and recognizes that it came from your favorite shopping site.
- Google then shows an ad for the shopping site accordingly.
Are the use of cookies unethical? One side of the argument is that they provide the customers with what they want; more options. The other side is that cookies don't have to ask for permission before they begin tracking the customer and they store your information for advertising purposes.
What are your thoughts on cookies? Were you aware of them? Do you think that they are okay to use or do you think more regulations need to be put in place to protect the consumer?
Read the following article before responding.
How Cookies Track You on the Web
The term “cookies” isn’t just a food. I have had the little ad asking if you will allow cookies to be used. I had always thought this was just one of those privacy things and then it goes away. I do understand the fact about cookies keeping you logged in but the fact is it can look at what you searched and will keep it.
ReplyDeleteWe are on the internet we use it to research talk to friends. You have TikTok, Instagram, Facebook. These websites take personally information from you. Some information is just to help the app/ website by showing you things you might like. The Third- partying is a problem since we don’t always read. Most people don’t read what it says so they don’t know what is actually happening. So, although it may be helpful there shouldn’t be a program that takes information from you. On the other hand, we can give it to them without realizing and that’s what some people don’t know. Business do pay to have their products to be shown and that’s how google makes money. Some ads may be helpful but they shouldn’t be collecting information and then sending to another company.
In my opinion the fact a program is made to remember your information and use it to give you adds is not ethical. I can get why they do it and how it may be helpful. The part that I find really bad is the third- party where they sell it. People do need to be careful for what we put out on the web as well.
I totally agree with you on the point you made about some people not even reading these offers that pop up on their screens. The people who do this make it much more unsafe for them when on the internet.
DeleteI agree with you about the issue of personal information being bought and sold through companies, which is real and happens routinely without many noticing. It is actually illegal for companies to do so without asking the customers or users' permission; however, sadly, it is quite impossible to catch all this stuff. Often, companies would use excuses for selling people's information for a better experience for those people, but many sell for purely the money since they pay very well.
DeleteI agree your point that people need to be more careful on the internet.
DeleteI agree with the points you've brought up. Every social media platform out their has made it a requirement for you to submit most of your personal data before allowing you to create and account.
DeleteI agree that people need to be more carful on the internet and that people need to star to read what pops up instead of just saying block or agree.
DeleteI disagree that cookies are unethical. Many people know about them and take the proper precautions to disable them. I do agree however that it is a problem that third parties sell people's information. For those who are unaware or don't know how to block cookies, this could be dangerous if their information got into the wrong hands.
DeleteI agree that people should take the time to read what they are giving their consent for because if someone gives their consent for a website to use cookies, whether they read what they were agreeing to or not, they still gave their consent by clicking the "ok" button.
DeleteI personally had no clue about cookies. Now that I know about cookies I Probably won't put my information in as much stuff as I do. I will also be more careful of what I do on the internet so this stuff doesn't happen as frequently. I think that cookies could be okay to use if they add more regulations and people were informed about them cuz I personally had no clue about them and this was a bit weird to find out about them. If there is more regulations with cookies and they put something on the web and I asked you if you are okay with your information getting taken or something like that to inform you that your information is getting taken and that it is getting taken to put ads on your feeds and stuff like that I think they wouldn't be as bad as they are now when people don't really know about them. I don't think it's ethical. The internet takes your information and sends it away so you get ads of stuff that they think relates to you and that will interest you. I do not think that is ethical. I say that if cookies are being used that they need to let people know how they're being used when they're being used to inform everyone that it will affect them. People like me have no clue about cookies because I've never heard of them before until now and I didn't know that this is happening now that I know it's happening I will probably be more careful about it.
ReplyDeleteI agree if we knew more than it wouldn't be so bad and cookies is a program that sends out info and we should be carful on the internet.
DeleteI agree with you on your point on how when websites are using cookies they should inform the viewer. Maybe websites could inform viewers by using the same type of add that they use to offer the use of cookies.
DeleteI agree with you point on how there should be more regulations on cookies. I don't think it's ok how most websites don't ask for permission to use cookies.
DeleteI very much understand your perspective, and I do agree to a certain extent, there should be more regulations on behalf of the cookies. You are right about where companies or specific websites should ask users if they are okay with their personal information being transferred, considering where technically it is illegal for companies to sell such personal information without asking for that person's permission. However, the truth is that many businesses are buying and selling such information without asking for permission routinely, and it just impossible to trace and track down all of them. Unfortunately, it is quite improbable to be more careful in terms of providing less information, as that is not how cookies truly work. You can choose not to accept when the website informs you about cookies, but most of the time, that means you cannot visit the website.
DeleteI agree with the points that you have made. People should be more thoughtful and prudent before blindly giving away their personal information over the internet. I also agree that their needs to be some sort of regulations system implemented to make internet users aware of their existence.
DeleteI agree that they should be more clear about it as some people aren't aware of what it is.
DeletePosted on behalf of Zoey:
DeleteI totally agree with your response, we should be really careful on the internet. Also that we all should make sure that we should read any articles that pop up.
I agree that countries should make more laws about using the cookies, for example, Google is already not using the third-parties' cookies.
DeleteI agree with the fact that people should be informed when cookies are being used, but I disagree with the point that the use of cookies is unethical. As you stated, "The internet takes your information and sends it away so you get ads of stuff that they think relates to you and that will interest you." I do not think that there is anything wrong with personalized advertisements, in fact I think it is a clever tactic in marketing to reach your targeted audience.
DeleteCookies are essential to the modern internet but a vulnerability to your privacy. Nowadays world there are 44.5% of websites that have cookies as a necessary part of web browsing, cookies help web developers give you more personal, convenient website visits. Cookies let websites remember you, your login information, shopping carts and more. But they can also be a treasure trove of private info for criminals to spy on.
ReplyDeleteI think these websites that have cookies should provide the users with more protection of hackers, but clearly now some cookies still can not protect users' information safely. In this case, users are more clearly aware of the necessary protection of personal data reservations. Currently, vertical browsers support and open cookies, and users can delete cookies or prohibit cookies from being placed on websites by setting them in advance, which can effectively avoid personal The awkward situation of the information "streaking".
I agree with you how cookies should provide users with more protection of hackers and it seems as if it could be easy for them to hack but through my research I haven't seen any hacker that got a hold of enough information to use.
DeleteI think that as long as you have the proper settings and are careful on the internet, the use of cookies should not be a problem by sharing information you want to keep private. Hackers are a definite problem though. I had not thought about the correlation between cookies and hacking before. There should be measures taken to ensure that information from cookies can't be breached or stolen.
DeleteI agree I don't think it is a problem however I think it should easily be able to be turned off and people should have more knowledge behind it.
DeleteI like your perspective of the dangers of hackers stealing personal information. I agree that personal information is private and should not be accessed by third parties that were not directly given this information, but I think that we also just need to be careful of what websites we put our personal information on. I believe that personal data protection is both ways, from the user and the website.
DeleteThe EU Cookies Directive requires websites that use cookies to do three things:
Delete1. Let visitors know that the website uses cookies.
2. Give visitors detailed information about how the data collected with cookies will be used.
3. Provide visitors with a clear option to accept or refuse the site's use of cookies.
The EU Cookies Directive doesn't only apply to businesses that directly place cookies on their visitors' devices. If a website uses a third-party service such as Google Analytics and that third party uses cookies to track the online behavior of the website's visitors, then the website using the third-party service is required to comply with the EU Cookies Directive.
I agree cookies should be more protect of you information. Cookies does have one benefit since it can keep you logged in.
ReplyDeleteI agree that cookies aren't all bad and there are some benefits, but I also think there needs to be more regulations on cookies.
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DeleteI agree, the number of current websites that have active cookies in place are not only a lot but the number is also increasing. I also agree that websites should provide more protection to their users personal data.
DeleteI haven't really thought about the use of cookies this way and I like your perspective. I like that you talk about lots of ways that cookies are used to benefit us.
DeleteI have just recently been seeing these suggestions for me to use cookies when I am online shopping, but I have never notices them before a few months ago. I have always thought that they were just some sort of shopping points put towards that specific website I was browsing on. Personally, I think that cookies are good for the purpose of helping customers or whoever would be online. Helping with things such as keeping you logged in or showing you related items to what you were researching for earlier. The only flaw I particularly see is companies that could be some what stalking people. Of what I have read, it is the computer that is tracking the viewer of the website, not a person. I'm not sure if I believe that though, the computer is still keeping that information in its software, which means that the person operating that computer could look at it and see what websites you are going to. Viruses can also develop using cookies, for example "Super Cookies" is a virus, according to us.norton.com. Some websites give options to block Super Cookies (us.norton.com), but not all. A different way to prevent Super Cookies is to properly track your devices activity (Comparitech.com).
ReplyDeleteOverall, I think that cookies have an ethical purpose and an unethical one. The best way to stay safe from the risk of getting tracked is to read the offers closely that appear on your screen. By doing this, the right decision can be made whether or not you would like your data to be saved or not when online.
I agree with the points you've brought up regarding the usefulness of cookies. They remember our passwords for us and show give us more options when we are looking to purchase something online. However I also have to agree with the point you made about the potential danger of cookies and how they can even lead to a virus.
DeleteI agree with you, if you are worried about cookies then you can be more safe when reading the policy or you can usually delete the cookies from your lap top by going on internet explorer, clicking tools, safety and deleting your browsing history so they can't get a hold of what you have been searching.
DeleteI agree with your points, cookies can be dangerous and you never know who is behind.
DeleteI agree that idea and proper purpose of cookies is ethical and helpful to users. I personally think that cookies aren't "stalking" you, and as you have said, only track small things like what you click on, and remember the information from a computer, not an actual person. It is a real problem though that viruses and super cookies can infiltrate your computer though. I agree that this is not ethical and should be more heavily regulated so that information that would normally be inaccessible stays that way.
DeleteI think people given the option that they could turn it off is crucial, because there will be no harm for people that dislike it.
Delete"Under normal circumstances, cookies cannot transfer viruses or malware to your computer. Because the data in a cookie doesn’t change when it travels back and forth, it has no way to affect how your computer runs.
DeleteHowever, some viruses and malware may be disguised as cookies. For instance, “supercookies” can be a potential security concern, and many browsers offer a way to block them. A “zombie cookie” is a cookie that recreates itself after being deleted, making zombie cookies tough to manage."
https://us.norton.com/internetsecurity-how-to-what-are-cookies.html
I agree that in some circumstances supercookies could be an issue and all browsers should offer a way to block them, but "many" is pretty good odds. In the cases where browsers that use "supercookies" offer a way to block them than they are no longer an issue unless "zombie cookies" are created, which is highly unlikely. I do not believe that "supercookies" are that big of an issue because they are uncommon and many browsers that use them, offer a way to block them.
I agree there is some part that is helpful and not every website is sharing information. Third- partying is not ethical and also can be done on other websites. We always have to be safe on the internet no matter what.
ReplyDeleteFor the entire 7 years I have used the internet I have never looked into what cookies actually are. Now knowing what cookies are I do not believe they are all bad, I do agree that cookies may be an invasion of privacy and that is not ok, but there are ways to fix that such as, websites asking for cookie permission from people on their website. On the contrary cookies are also showing us what we want. If you like to shop online, what would you rather have ads of completely useless things you don't want or have ads that show you what stuff you like based on what websites you have gone on? I have been aware of cookies I just have never known what cookies do and when I found out at first I thought it was useless and an invasion of privacy but now I think otherwise. I do think websites could be more thorough about asking the customer for permission because cookies can be an invasion of privacy and that is not ok especially on the internet because if you are not protected on the internet it never ends well. To conclude I think more regulations need to be put in place to protect the consumer, but I do not think cookies are all bad.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you in this case, as you acknowledge the benefits of cookies for customers, specifically as you mentioned in terms of providing the relatable ads to us, instead of completely random stuff. When it comes to accepting where our personal information is continually being used or transferred without notice in the past, I believe it's down to that person if he or she mind or does not care about it. I agree that some regulations should be applied, where some countries are already considering and acting on behalf of this issue already.
DeleteI agree with cookies may be an invasion of privacy, but there can be some positive things about it, which you have pointed out.
DeleteI agree that not all cookies are bad because I would rather see ads I am interested in then completely irrelevant stuff. I also agree strongly that the website need to ask for permission.
DeleteI completely agree with your points. Cookies are intended to make your internet experience smoother and more personalized. There are also many websites that ask permission to use cookies. I also agree that it's important for there to be regulations about the use of cookies. In Canada there is the Canada Anti Spam Law, which also covers many types of cookie regulations, but not all places have laws like this. It is important for internet users to be safe if they don't or can't disable cookies.
DeletePosted on behalf of Zoey:
DeleteI also don’t believe that the cookies are all bad. As long as we know what we’re doing we should be safe and not have to worry.
I agree with this when I first found out I thought it was just a big invasion of privacy but it actually makes the internet even more useful than it already is.
DeleteI completely agree with the point you made about how regulations should be set to make sure that everything is safe in terms of 'cookies'.
DeleteI agree that cookies are not "useless and an invasion of privacy". Cookies serve an important purpose in online advertisement and reaching the targeted audience.
DeleteI believe the same thing you do in regard to how there should be rules that ensure people are made aware of what cookies is and what it's doing. People need to understand how their information is being used.
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ReplyDeleteI am interested and aware of the many other privacy concerns across such internet, such as cookies, as although they existed for more than decades, I had realized only recent years it has been discussed considerably more often. I understand why cookies are considered unethical; however, I am not against it, especially when you think of the other personal information privacy issues, and follow the purpose of cookies.
Cookies are inevitable if you are browsing online, especially when visiting websites. Realistically, if cookies are the primary concern of personal information privacy, there are numbers of other considerably worse privacy issues ongoing, such as information mishandling, spying, location, and more. One short example is where recently, people have been mentioning how Instagram seems to be listening to their conversations through the phone's microphone. Many users experienced where they could be discussing their need for a specific product or service. Minutes later, the ads with the exact type of product or service will appear on their Instagram feed. Although Instagram's CEO claim where the app does not listen to you, people are still in doubt.
I understand and read some of the general aspects of what sort and type of personal information exactly that the companies are targeting in terms of secretly and routinely selling and buying our data from other businesses and are inside cookies, which to me although I do care and sometimes feel uncomfortable when thinking about it, I still am not as concerned, however only slightly disgusted, considering the purpose of things such as cookies are not only for assisting businesses in terms of marketing, however, can be used in other aspects too, such as a political matter. Obviously, from a consumer or customer point of view, it is not necessarily bad where such businesses can provide you goods or services you might require currently, which can improve your quality of life. However, it is still understandable for others to be concerned about such, where I do not oppose the recent considerations and actions of applying regulations on behalf of cookies.
People also always have the option to prevent their information from being updated to the most current, if their privacy of personal data through the internet significantly bothers them. However, that will mean cutting all connections and access to the internet, considering changing your privacy settings on browsers such as Google is always doubted to be effective, especially when the company's mission statement is to take control of the world's information. That is also why people such as Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos publicly expressed their fear of Google. I am quite surprised and believe more people should be aware of such concern, though it is quite horrifying to acknowledge how our privacy is used daily.
I am also not completely concerned by cookies. They are meant to offer a personalized advertising, and although they can share your information, there are more unsettling things happening on our devices. Claims of software listening to you is actually very common. It was recently realized that Alexas and Google Homes can be hacked and the hackers can listen to you. Cookies can track your information, but there are ways to block and minimize them, and typically they are not doing any harm, far less harm than other monitoring software.
DeleteI agree that there are many other privacy invasion issues across other technologies other than cookies and that the purpose that cookies serve is more helpful than these other technologies.
DeleteFor years I have been getting notifications when accessing a new site telling me if I accept the cookies present or not, never really knowing what they actually were or what their purpose was. However not all sites asked if I accepted and therefore probably activated without me even knowing. In this day and age, everything we do, every website we access and even every tab we open are going to be monitored and stored. Cookies are just another example of this. While cookies pose no apparent threat to the web user’s personal security or privacy, I believe that cookies are in fact ethical, however websites need to implement more regulations to increase the protection of the user. There are three types of cookies that are currently active all over the internet; session cookies, first-party persistent cookies and third-party persistent cookies. Session cookies aren't made with an expiration date and can last as long as the site is running, and their purpose is essentially to save your shopping cart list on websites like Amazon and StockX. First-party persistent cookies are engraved into your device's memory, and allow the user to not need to remember passwords and usernames as these cookies remember for you. Finally, third-party cookies are the ones that display advertisements and promote products and are by far the most invasive out of the three, as their creator can easily access data from the user as long as they remain on the site. They essentially track what you watch, what you buy and what you search, which they use to make a list of things that you are interested in. Then they will retarget you by promoting ads that are similar to what you have previously searched. While many see this as being beneficial as it provides a broader spectrum of information and more options to the average internet user, as well as promoting companies and supporting businesses, there is also an element of creepiness that comes along with it. It is also scary to learn that some of the largest internet based companies such as Google and Twitter use cookies on their sites. These cookies essentially study what you do online and feed your information to their programmer, while showing you similar things to what you had previously searched.
ReplyDeleteLike I stated before, I believe that cookies are indeed useful and should still remain a part of the internet, however there should be regulations set in place such as a survey or a notification system warning the user about the cookies that are active within the site he or she is trying to access.
I feel the same way about how there need to be more regulations in place to keep cookies from hiding its intentions from its users. I appreciate the suggestions you made about what rules could be initiated like "a survey or notification system."
DeleteI agree that while some websites do a good job at notifying the users about the cookies or even asking permission to use them, but all websites should make an effort to ask or at least notify the user about cookies.
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ReplyDeleteAlmost every time that I use my phone or Laptop and click on a website it says “We use cookies to improve your online experience. By continuing browsing this website, we assume you agree with our use of cookies and cookie policy.” or something along those lines depending what website you enter. It then gives you the option to agree to the cookie policy or you can leave the site. I've always clicked “agree” because I never really knew what they were but I saw them on multiple websites so I thought they had to be safe.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the article posted on the blog. I am still okay with the cookie policy. The three main things that they stated were how cookies track your web activity, why they are beyond popular and how to avoid/stop them. In my opinion those are the three things you should know before accepting the cookies.
There are flaws that I don’t like about cookies like they gather a bunch of information from my computer, how I’m browsing the web and they can have access to my location (how cookies track you). But I still don’t have a big problem with them. They make my online shopping and youtube more enjoyable by putting in ads that I recently searched and showing me more options of clothes that I like.
In the end if you are against the idea of the cookie policy you can simply not go on the websites that use cookies or you can prevent them by opening the browser internet explorer, clicking tools, click safety and delete browsing history and then you should be good.((computerhope.com)
I agree with all your points. Most cookies can be disabled, and if they really bother you, you have the choice not to use the site. Cookies that force you to leave a site without giving you an option to disagree them are called cookie walls. Canada's Federal Privacy Commissioner is working to get these banned on canadian sites. I have to agree that while they do take information, cookies improve your internet experience, and they don't really bother me either.
DeleteI agree that although most people find advertisements annoying and a disturbance, they are much more appealing when it something that you are actually interested in.
DeleteI have also seen those accept buttons on some websites that i go on too and I also have always clicked agree as I didn't know what it was. I also do agree with you point that it can help put things on your laptop that you like (ex clothes, videos, websites) and this makes thing easier and more enjoyable. I don't agree however that I am ok with it tracking my location ect, this to me feels a bit too private and not data that they need to know.
DeleteI have never used cookies but there’s a lot of confusion around it, the tiny text files that get saved in your browser. Cookies are responsible for remembering your personal information and internet browsing preferences, like your favourite websites and preferred language settings. I believe that deleting your cookies can help you regain a bit of privacy. Not only will you have more privacy if you share your device with another person, but you’ll also have more privacy from website hosts who use persistent cookies, or cookies that get saved for long periods of time. I agree with the side of cookies don't have to ask for permission before they begin tracking the customer and store your information for advertising purposes. However, the main appeal of deleting your cookies is that it gives you a clean slate. By deleting cookies, you can start fresh and choose the types of cookies you want to accept on each site going forward. As I said, I've never used the app, but ads about Nike shoes kept appearing on my YouTube or on any other gaming websites on my laptop after looking through the shoes on the official Nike website few months ago, and it still happens now. This scares me, probably cookies don't even need you to download it but it can still access your data. But it still depends on your browsing habits, lifestyle, and privacy needs. However, I consider deleting cookies can give you peace of mind.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it is kind of scary that when you look at your shoes and then you keep getting ads for the shoes. I also agree that if you can delete cookies it would be good.
DeletePersonally I would want the NIke ad appearing, if I was on the Nike website and I dislike it or its too expensive. I would want more options without doing as much research.
DeleteI agree with Miles that cookies make it easier for the user to find alternatives to what they have looked for within the same brand, product, etc.
DeleteI have been aware of cookies for many years. I have been taught to have an awareness that information from my computer can be tracked. Personally, I have never had a problem with cookies though, I just accept them as a regular part of the internet. I have noticed quite recently this year that a lot of websites actually let you regulate or even disable cookies when you visit that site. I think this is far more fair than websites using cookies without the user's knowledge, and it would be comforting to many people if all platforms did this. I am not bothered by cookies though, I like having ads that are directed at me specifically, and they also can't identify you as a person, only your device's ID.
ReplyDeleteI can definitely see how most people feel like cookies are an invasion of privacy and unethical. I don't think they are a total invasion of privacy, but I do think that there should be more regulations around them to make sure that any information taken about your computer is safe, and only used by trustable parties. The fact that most antivirus programs classify cookies as "spyware" is unsettling, and makes you wonder how secure your information is. There are regulations for Canadian websites though that prevent the use of super cookies. Canada's Federal Privacy Commissioner is also working to ban zombie cookies and cookie walls on canadian websites. These rules help keep Canadian's information a little bit safer on the internet. (dlapiper.com)
There are also many antivirus programs that extend to the use of cookies, but only 1% or 1 million per billion users actually disable all cookies. (webmasters) I make sure to have a proper antivirus program, so that cookies can do their essential jobs of saving login and other information on sites, as well as send some advertisements, but without having my information shared unsafely.
Overall, I do not think that the use of cookies is unethical. It provides a smoother user experience online. I do think that there should be more regulations around safe and fair use of cookies to protect those who don't understand or even know about them though. While it may be considered a breach of privacy, there are computer settings, laws, and antivirus programs to keep your information safe and protected, as well as private if you would like it to be.
I agree that cookies are a helpful tool when browsing online and if someone really had a problem with the use of cookies, then there are settings in place that can be personalized to protect the user from the cookies.
DeleteAs stated above many of us has experienced having a cookie notification pop up when we are on a website. I was aware of it before I read it here. Personally, I'm perfectly fine with it, I click accept and carry on with my business. It does invade some privacy as in what you are searching up but I don't think that degree of privacy is enough to say that cookies are unethical. I also think we have to look at what it brings, you can almost say its a personal assistance with only one function, to give better ads. Its invading that art of your privacy that's not that important. I would rather want better options and invaded of my unimportant privacy, then having no options.
ReplyDeleteI agree that cookies do not invade privacy severely enough to make it unethical.
DeletePosted on behalf of Zoey:
ReplyDeleteCookies I believe do more good then harm. Cookies help others find stuff that there looking for and beyond. For people that aren’t to great with the internet, cookies help them find what there looking for. Although this idea is a pretty good one, I still do find it kinda weird though that they can find what you’re searching for and find ads and other advertising that are related to your search and what your interested to. I actually noticed the this a couple of days ago when I was searching and found that all the ads was related to my search. This shows that the internet is pretty scary and not safe for everyone if they don’t know what there doing. Before I read this article I didn’t really know what cookies were exactly but I kinda had an idea, I think that they should make the cookies article a for sure to read because people are scared of things like this going on but they have no clue that it is. This also makes me think that what if there is more things like “cookies” that were not a where about. The internet is pretty scary place but we have to be smart while using it. Those are my ideas on cookies and why I think there more helpful then wrong, but still have there issues.
I agree that cookies do more good than harm because they are user friendly, meaning that they use targeted advertisements that are tailored to the interest of the user. Like you stated, for people who are inexperienced and do not know their way around the internet, cookies can be helpful when trying to find what they are looking for and beyond.
DeleteI agree that cookies can help you find stuff of what you are looking for but also that the internet can be really scary and not safe for everyone that don't know what they're doing.
DeleteI think that cookies are a really good thing and allows the internet to be more useful however I think that cookies should not be sold to anyone or used in a wrongful way because if they are given to the wrong person the cookies can put lots of people in danger. I also think that people should be more educated on them before websites start recording them. My last thought on cookies is that it should only take in certain information that can be used for good not information that isn't useful to company's and can just end up putting you in a bad position.
ReplyDeleteI agree that third parties should not be trying to make a personal profit by collecting and selling people's computer data.
DeleteI agree that cookies can be a good thing but also like you said if they go on the wrong hands, it can be really dangerous.
DeleteOverall, I do not think that the use of cookies is unethical. It provides a smoother user experience online. I do think that there should be more regulations around safe and fair use of cookies to protect those who don't understand or even know about them though. While it may be considered a breach of privacy, there are computer settings, laws, and antivirus
ReplyDeleteWhen you think of the word “cookies” it would normally correspond to you as a food, but did you know that the term “cookies” doesn’t just have one meaning? I have noticed that a lot of websites that you go onto, will have a little box that says ‘enable cookies’, and I had been taught to be aware of that because information can be tracked through ‘cookies’. I have noticed quite recently this year that a lot of websites actually let you regulate or even disable cookies when you visit that site. I think this is far more fair than websites using cookies without the user's knowledge, and it would be comforting to many people if all platforms did this.
ReplyDeleteMajority of people feel that cookies are an invasion of privacy and should be taken out of the internet completely. I can see where they are coming from, but in my opinion I do think that there should be more regulations around them to make sure that any information taken about your computer is safe, and only used by trustable parties. I also find it a little unsettling that the programs classify cookies as “spyware” which does not sound like a program I would want on my computer.
There are regulations for Canadian websites though that prevent the use of super cookies. Canada's Federal Privacy Commissioner is also working to ban zombie cookies and cookie walls on canadian websites. These rules help keep Canadian's information a little bit safer on the internet. (dlapiper.com)
Overall, I do not think that the use of cookies is unethical. It provides a smoother user experience online. I do think that there should be more regulations around safe and fair use of cookies to protect those who don't understand or even know about them though. While it may be considered a breach of privacy, there are computer settings, laws, and antivirus. I make sure to have a proper antivirus program, so that cookies can do their essential jobs of saving login and other information on sites, as well as send some advertisements, but without having my information shared unsafely.
I agree that cookies are useful and provide a smoother experience online, and I like your point about installing an antivirus program to protect your personal information from being shared unsafely. I think it is something we should all consider.
DeleteFirst half of my post (I surpassed the maximum number of characters so my post will be in two parts)
ReplyDeleteAccording to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, “a cookie is a small piece of text that is placed on your computer when you visit a website”. Cookies, which are used by most websites today, store the website’s name and a unique ID representing the user. Every time users go back to that website, the website knows they have already visited it. Examples of information that cookies store include: the time spent on that website, the links clicked, the preferences or options chosen, items in a shopping basket, etc.
At first, cookies were shared between the website (the “first party”) and the user. Later on, third-party cookies started popping up. According to pcmag.com, third-party cookies are created by a website with a domain name other than the one the user is currently visiting. They are widely used by advertisers to track browsing history.
The use of cookies is ethical. Cookies are generally used to improve the website browsing experience for users. They are time saving because you don’t have to enter certain personal information every time you visit a favourite website. Cookies cannot carry viruses and install malware. They collect and store information about you based on your browsing patterns and information you provide, and let users avoid logging in each time they visit a site. The information stored is used to tailor the website to your preferences.
Have you noticed when visiting a website that a window pops up notifying you that the website uses cookies and asking for your permission before installing cookies on your computer? According to the news company The Sun, in May 2018, the European Union enforced the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), a strict set of laws that forces companies to handle your personal information better or face massive fines. GDPR forces companies to get your consent to handle your data or contact you over e-mail.
In Canada, businesses must follow the requirements for installing computer programs set out by Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL). According to Canadian Radio-Television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), “CASL prohibits the installation of a computer program (software) to another person's computing device (e.g., laptop, smartphone, desktop, gaming console or other connected device) in the course of commercial activity without the express consent of the device owner or an authorized user (e.g., other family member or employee)”. An exception to this rule are certain types of programs that users are considered to already have express consent without requesting it. Cookies are an example of such programs. However, if the user disables cookies in their browser, the business would not be considered to have consent to install cookies.
Second half of my post
ReplyDeleteI was aware of cookies because many websites ask permission to use cookies, but I was not fully aware of what they mean or do until I did some research for this dilemma. I think that all websites should ask permission for the use of cookies, so that users give consent and it is their choice if they want to be using cookies.
“This website uses cookies and third party services.” Just as I was doing research for my culminating task, I was on the Jumpstart website looking up where their funds came from. As soon as I entered the website, it informed me that the website uses cookies and third party services. It had an “ok” button next to it so I was warned. If I didn’t want those cookies I could leave the website without clicking ok. This is an example of what I think is a good solution to people’s privacy issues. If you do not want websites to store information about you, you can block cookies from being created, or delete them at any time.
I do not entirely agree with the use of third party cookies where someone else is gathering this information and selling it to make a profit. If a company or website is gathering this information, that is okay, because they are the ones using that information, but a third party is unnecessary. As for the cookies that are used without asking, I do not think that it is an invasion of privacy because the information is used for advertisement suggestions, not to be distributed to the world for people to speculate about the websites you use and personal preferences.
There is nothing wrong with specialized advertisement and personalized browsing experience for users. I would rather be recommended products that I would be interested in than ones that I would not. I think that cookies are a useful tool for targeted advertising and a clever way to reach your target audience.
Resources:
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
Frequently asked questions about cookies
https://www.priv.gc.ca/en/privacy-topics/technology/online-privacy-tracking-cookies/cookies/frequently-asked-questions-about-cookies/
CRTC
Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation Requirements for Installing Computer Programs
https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/internet/install.htm
PC Magazine
Third-Party Cookie
https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/third-party-cookie
The Sun – A News UK Company
Rookie Cookies
https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/6507593/what-is-cookie-internet-accept-info-decline-delete-cookies-explained/#:~:text=When%20you%20visit%20a%20website,represents%20you%20as%20a%20user.&text=This%20means%20companies%20can%20tailor,some%20information%20about%20you%20already.
I agree with Fiona, it was very clever to come up with something that targets audiences with specific preferences for an item and previews that item on different websites. Obviously there are downside such as leaked information and that is why i think that people should be more informed about the risks.
DeleteCookies can potentially be very dangerous. I think that companies need some sort of advertising and since the internet is such a big part of todays society, the idea of cookies was actually genius. People spend hours of the day searching up information. Why not make something that can take your searches and apply it to other browsers?Obviously there are many thoughts on the topic. People aren't always careful with what they search and click on. Many dangerous sites are on the web. We also have to take into account that many people don't know about cookies. I learned about cookies on websites in grade 6. Ever since then i was very careful not to click on info i didn't need to see and not to get lured into all the "free" shopping tricks. The internet is specifically designed to entrap you and make you want to click on random buttons or buy stuff. The cookies link on my computer comes in a small tab at the bottom of my screen, the yes button is lit up and makes you want to click "accept". In my opinion, cookies was a good idea, but people should be more aware and informed. I think classes should be taught on online safety and a course should be included for cookies- just giving people the knowledge of cookies would lower a lot of the risks.
ReplyDelete-ashley-
I agree that people should be made more aware. There should be regulations set in place to make cookies more forthcoming. It wouldn't be so frightening for people if they were made conscious of what is happening to their information.
DeleteI agree that we should be more careful about not getting lured into internet traps and we should all learn about the dangers of some cookies and internet traps as early as in grade six like you did.
DeleteI agree that precautions should be taken. But it really was genius, whoever came up with the idea of advertising for benefit of companies and the consumer.
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ReplyDeleteI became aware of cookies recently, and the thought that my information was being recorded without my knowing shocked me. It’s been stated that user’s data is protected, but there is a possibility that people’s information could be used in an intrusive fashion. The General Data Protection Regulation, and ePrivacy Directive were created to invoke privacy for people and are the biggest reasons people can now become aware of cookies. However, many would argue that the ability of websites to block people from their sites when users don’t allow cookies makes these regulations counterproductive. I believe the biggest issue with cookies is the secrecy of it, and it’s my opinion that cookies needs to be more transparent. I believe cookies would be ethical if people were made very aware of it, and how it works. I believe that cookies is a beneficial from a marketing perspective, as sometimes it’s important to be able to track consumer activities for marketing purposes, but as a consumer it’s my opinion that cookies is mostly just an annoyance. Productivity decreases when targeted ads are constantly being displayed on a person’s device and need to be closed. CEO of digi.me, Shane Green, stated, “I would say they’re generally pretty useless so far. We’re back to 1999 all over again with pop-ups everywhere, and it’s beyond annoying” (1). In conclusion, my belief on the subject is that rules need to be put in place to ensure people know what they are really agreeing to when they select yes on a cookies pop up, but other than the secrecy of cookies, cookies is ethical.
ReplyDelete1. https://www.vox.com/recode/2019/12/10/18656519/what-are-cookies-website-tracking-gdpr-privacy
I agree that from a marketing perspective cookies are beneficial because they can help them reach their targeted audience.
DeleteI agree with the way that the UK and EU have handled the use of cookies and I too hope that more countries try this approach.
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ReplyDeleteI think you have to have caution with cookies. Cookies are designed to help obtain information on what the user of the page is viewing so that programmers can be improving and updating the website.
There are good and bad cookies, the good ones are from a company to obtain information from users to improve their page and provide a better service. However, you have to be careful with bad cookies that obtain confidential information by this means.
Although there are several types of cookies, it is not known what their reach is. So from time to time it is better to clean cookies.
You make some good points and I agree that you should be cautious with certain types of cookies.
DeleteMy first thought of cookies is that they seem pretty ethical for the advertisement purposes of certain brands. It is also pretty convenient when for example there cookies where you revisit a website you go to all the time, and it's convenient that you don't have to re enter the same information. The other side is that with cookies like this it is scary that the information that you have searched for previously is now known and is now stuck on this website. There are also the situations of when on one website you searched for a specific product and now that you go to another website they now have advertisements for what you were previously looking for and this is caused by the use of cookies which in certain aspects seems like a violation of privacy. I feel like if I am on a website with cookies and I'm not being made aware of these cookies than it is a violation of privacy and there should be actions put into place to prevent it from happening without the users knowledge. I think that the use of tracking cookies in specific is unethical and should not be used without giving the users further information or asking for consent before taking your information. For me I have been aware of cookies because there are many sites that I have gone onto and they do usually let you know that they do use cookies on that site. In these situations I like that they at least let you know that there are cookies instead of using cookies without your knowledge or consent. Like I mentioned before if cookies are just being used for advertisement than I don't think there is too much wrong with those cookies. In an ideal world what you give is what you get, but in what we have been living, when you give a finger they take the whole arm meaning they take more than you offer. If there are no rules and regulations, right now they say cookies are just for advertisement, but who then sets the rules that prevents further information being taken.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your points and I really like how you put it into perspective with the example of instagram using cookies to find what you like and what your preferences are.
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ReplyDeleteI personally had no clue about cookies. Now that I know about cookies I Probably won't put my information in as much stuff as I do. Third party cookies are the ones that display advertising and promotional products, and they are by far the most intrusive because their creators can easily access data from users as long as they remain on the site. They essentially track what you watch, buy, and search for, and use them to list things you're interested in. They will then reposition you by promoting ads similar to the ones you've searched before. Although many people think that this is beneficial because it provides the ordinary Internet users with a wide range of information and more choices, and promotes the development of companies and supporting enterprises, there are also some chilling factors that come with it. It's shocking that some of the biggest Internet based companies (such as Google and twitter) use cookies on their websites. These cookies essentially study what you're doing online and give your information to their programmers, while showing you something similar to what you've been searching for. To conclude I think more regulations need to be put in place to protect the consumer, but I do not think cookies are all bad.
ReplyDeleteI think that many people didn't know about cookies and they are now going to watch what personal information they put on the devices. I agree that there needs to be more regulation to protect the information of the consumer.
DeleteCookies is a tool that could be very helpful but also very destructive. Cookies is helping consumers get what they want and is putting only things they are interested in on their computer. In this case it is benefiting the consumers, but this is also a big invasion of privacy. It isn't right to be tracking what people are researching all the time. This could get companies and consumers into trouble. For example if a father was going to buy a car for his daughter for her 16th birthday and was doing research on what car to get her on their family laptop. Then after he was done when his daughter went on she would see all these car ads and would catch on. On the other side of this argument i do see the benefits of cookies. This could make online shopping much easier for many people, it could be a great way to gain data ect. People are always looking for easier and faster ways to online shop, this could help them do this. I think that a way both things could happen is if on every website you go on you have to agree for cookies to use your data. This would still allow for companies like google to have the benefits from it but people will also feel like they have privacy on their devices.
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