←back to thread

Internet's biggest annoyance: Cookie laws should target browsers, not websites

(nednex.com)
583 points SweetSoftPillow | 5 comments | 22 Oct 25 12:12 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
Show context
rustc ◴[22 Oct 25 12:29 UTC] No.45668037[source]▶
Or just ban this kind of data collection. Is there any reason anyone would willingly click "Accept" when a website asks to share your data with 500+ partner sites?
replies(10): >>45668108 #>>45668122 #>>45668260 #>>45668263 #>>45668342 #>>45668470 #>>45668532 #>>45668715 #>>45673000 #>>45675491 #
regentbowerbird ◴[22 Oct 25 12:55 UTC] No.45668342[source]▶
The same could be said with all advertising and surveillance.

No one wants to be advertised to, but powerful lobbies argue that ending ads will lower consumption and thus harm the economy; and no politician wants to lower GDP.

No one wants to be spied on, but powerful lobbies argue tracking people allow better security; and no politician wants to be soft on crime and terrorism.

replies(3): >>45668481 #>>45669258 #>>45669561 #
1. phkahler ◴[22 Oct 25 13:05 UTC] No.45668481[source]▶
>> No one wants to be advertised to, but powerful lobbies argue that ending ads will lower consumption and thus harm the economy; and no politician wants to lower GDP.

I doubt that. People tend to spend their money regardless. Advertising just determines what they spend it on.

replies(4): >>45668697 #>>45669051 #>>45669150 #>>45669459 #
2. GJim ◴[22 Oct 25 13:19 UTC] No.45668697[source]▶
Famously....

Advertising is only used heavily when all products are similar, otherwise the best would naturally rise to the top.

For example, washing powder/liquid is advertised heavily on TV, yet do you really believe one brand of powder/liquid gets your clothes cleaner than any other?

3. tcfhgj ◴[22 Oct 25 13:43 UTC] No.45669051[source]▶
not so sure about that, I am pretty sure ads promote materialism and consumerism, probably even leading to people working more to be able to afford more
4. tclancy ◴[22 Oct 25 13:50 UTC] No.45669150[source]▶
Yes, but then you might consume beer based on how it tastes rather than the likelihood of winding up in an impromptu volleyball game with a bunch of Nordic bikini models. So you see where the entrenched players want to keep the status quo.
5. regentbowerbird ◴[22 Oct 25 14:11 UTC] No.45669459[source]▶
Our culture values the act of buying things for social status (consumerism), and one of the main reasons for that is advertising.

You're assuming people would still have the same amount of money, but for most money is not a given, and people strive to earn money precisely because they want to buy the things they were advertised.

Without the social pressure to acquire things one doesn't need, it's very possible people might simply work less and use that time for other things.