Global Privacy Control: A New Standard for Browser-Level Data Protection
A Coalition Pushes for Simplified Online Privacy
A coalition of tech companies, publishers, and advocacy groups has unveiled the Global Privacy Control (GPC), a new initiative aimed at giving internet users a simple way to protect their personal data. Spearheaded by former FTC CTO Ashkan Soltani and privacy researcher Sebastian Zimmeck, this effort seeks to establish a browser-level signal to prevent the sale of user data.
Key Players Behind GPC
The initiative has garnered early support from prominent organizations, including:
- Publishers: The New York Times, The Washington Post, Financial Times
- Tech Companies: Automattic (WordPress), Glitch, DuckDuckGo, Brave, Mozilla
- Privacy Advocates: Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), Consumer Reports, Disconnect, Abine
How GPC Works
GPC allows users to communicate their “do not sell or share” preference to participating websites through compatible browsers and extensions. Currently, experimental support is available via:
- Browsers/Extensions: Brave, DuckDuckGo, Firefox, and tools from Abine and Disconnect
- Open Standard: The coalition aims to develop GPC into a widely adopted open standard.
“Getting privacy online should be simple and accessible to everyone, period.” — Gabriel Weinberg, CEO of DuckDuckGo
Aligning with Legal Frameworks
California’s CCPA Compliance
GPC is initially tailored to align with the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which grants users the right to opt out of data sales. The law also mandates that businesses honor browser-level opt-out signals—a feature GPC aims to standardize.
- Legal Binding: The coalition is working with California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to make GPC legally enforceable under CCPA.
- Future-Proofing: The standard is designed to adapt to other privacy laws, such as the EU’s GDPR.
Why Not Revive Do Not Track (DNT)?
While DNT was a pioneering effort, it failed due to lack of industry compliance. GPC addresses this by:
- Clear Intent: Unlike DNT, GPC explicitly signals an opt-out of data sales.
- Legal Backing: CCPA’s requirements create enforceable obligations for businesses.
- Industry Buy-In: GPC’s neutral branding may reduce resistance from adtech stakeholders.
Broader Implications
Global Privacy Ambitions
GPC’s design allows for flexibility to integrate with other privacy regimes, including GDPR. Soltani notes:
“EU data protection agencies could consider GPC as a valid way for consumers to invoke GDPR rights, including objections to data sales.”
Industry and Regulatory Support
- Mozilla: “People’s data rights must be recognized and respected.” — Selena Deckelmann, VP of Firefox Desktop
- Senator Ron Wyden: “This project shows it’s possible to give consumers a real way to stop data tracking and sales.”
Next Steps
The full technical specification for GPC is available here. As the initiative gains traction, it could redefine how users exercise privacy rights online—without the clutter of consent pop-ups or fragmented controls.
For updates, follow @globalprivctrl on Twitter.
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