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Security Government The Internet

Most Government Websites Serve Tracking Cookies Without Consent, Report Finds (hothardware.com) 27

A new study published by the IMDEA Networks Institute shows just how common it is for government websites to install third-party cookies in visitors' web browsers. HotHardware reports: The study makes a distinction between third-party (TP) cookies and third-party tracking (TPT) cookies, because not all third-party cookies are "set by domains that are known to be tracking users for data collection purposes." The chart [here] shows the percentage of government websites for each country that install at least one third-party cookie, as well as the percentage of said cookies that are associated with domains that are known to be tracking users. Russia tops out the list with over 90% of its government websites installing third-party cookies in visitors' web browsers. Meanwhile, nearly 60% of US government websites install at least one third-party cookie. Germany sits at the bottom of the list with a little under 30% of government websites serving up third-party cookies.

Most of the third-party cookies installed by government websites are known tracking cookies, except in the case of Germany, where under 10% of third-party cookies are associated with domains that are known to track users. The researchers also found that, depending on the country, 20% to 60% of the third party cookies installed by government websites remain in visitors' browsers without expiring for a year or more. That's a long time for a tracker installed without your knowledge or consent to remain active. Beyond specifically tracking cookies, the researchers measured the number of trackers of any kind present on government websites. The Russian gov.ru has the most trackers out of any government website analyzed by the researchers, numbering 31 trackers in total. However, Brazil and Canada aren't far behind, with 25 trackers present on both investexportbrasil.gov.br and nac-cna.ca. The US government website with the most trackers is hhs.gov, which has 13.

The researchers point out that both third-party tracking cookies are automatically installed in visitors' web browsers without their consent. However, the researchers guess that web developers and administrators likely include third-party content without intending to add trackers to their websites. A great many websites now rely on third-party resources and include social content that come with trackers built-in.

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Most Government Websites Serve Tracking Cookies Without Consent, Report Finds

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  • Now I know the answer to the question "Are you being served?" and yes the Brit sitcom (great show...) Apparently the general public was served.

    JoshK.

    • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

      by CaptQuark ( 2706165 )

      Government websites are supposed to follow the privacy and tracking guidelines in the OMB guidelines from 2010. [whitehouse.gov]

      Google analytics, session cookies, and first-party persistent cookies have been allowed since then, but the government is typically not in the business of collecting personal information from web browsing and certainly doesn't share any tracking information from gov't sites. The gov't has so many other databases they can tap into (IRS, Treasury, DoJ, VA, SSA, Medicare, HUD, Labor, etc) that inform

    • Cookies I can deal with.

      I'm more worried that most of them also require Java before I can interact with them.

      • I have a plugin that "crushes" cookies so I use that particular web browser.

        Yes Java, JavaScript, or some funky Microsoft technology I have to use in order for the site to work correctly....I get you there. :)

        JoshK.

  • Government, by definition, is elected by the people. The people must have voted for surveillance. Nothing to see here.

    --
    No system of mass surveillance has existed in any society that we know of to this point that has not been abused. - Edward Snowden

    • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

      Government, by definition, is elected by the people.

      No. Government, by definition, tells people what to do.

      • If only definition was how government worked.

        --
        You who choose to lead must follow -- Grateful Dead

      • Government, by definition, is maintenance of a desired condition.

        What the conditions are, and who desires it, is the rub.

        • by GoTeam ( 5042081 )
          But my idea of what government should be leads to joy and happiness. Your idea of government will lead to chaos and death. Agree with me and my ideas, or I will destroy you! (with joy and happiness of course) /s
          • Yeah, it all depends on who is the one determined the "desired condition", doesn't it.
            In any case, I'll stick with it telling people what to do, as it always does that.
  • Comment removed based on user account deletion
  • Seriously though. Who cares.

    Even if they don't use cookies, they can still use localstorage, indexdb or other session based browser storage.

    Cookies aren't evil

  • Those messages asking permission to use cookies are the new EULA. Many sites don't work without the cookies, so you pretty much have to click Yes. Who actually reads the fine print about what they are agreeing to?

  • by MrKaos ( 858439 ) on Saturday July 09, 2022 @12:04AM (#62686846) Journal

    If you read the terms and conditions for the Australian Tax Office phone app, you will find that you are consenting to your location being tracked.

    That may be understandable if you are using it to track vehicle expenses however the terms also allow the to turn on the microphone and camera at any time.

    It's so blatant - it's a mockery of freedom of speech and association in a so called "democratic" country.

    • by GoTeam ( 5042081 )

      It's so blatant - it's a mockery of freedom of speech and association in a so called "democratic" country.

      People in "free" countries used to worry about trading freedom for security. More and more, it seems folks are willing to exchange freedom for convenience.

  • For PC users:
    CCleaner to remove tracking cookies,
    Wise Registry Cleaner is also useful in such a manner,
    And of course, there is Spybot Search and Destroy.

    I also use the no-script browser plugin to see how many scripts and such a web page has attached to it.

    As an added note, CCleaner start-up function looking at what is listed at the four tabs I've been able to remove start-up of items I don't need to be started up at booth as well as reduce multiple loads of functionality that really only needs to load once,

  • Many orgs probably don't know it when it comes from some WordPress Plugin or other module...

  • Agency websites must prove their worthiness with statistics in order to maintain or grow funding.

    Could it be done better?

    ...No comment.

    After all, any decent developer can use Elastic to pretty much do whatever they want with the server logs. You want real-time dashboards without having to deal with cookies and opt-outs? [google.com] Okay.

    The Feds don't even need a warrant to track someone, they can simply buying publicly obtainable advertising data [nytimes.com], which is a commonly known thing already. Like it was on the
  • The government believes it's exclusively THEIR job to track the citizenry, log everywhere they go and everything the do. The government is like organized crime and they hate competition (and free thought).

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