5 ms·

Apparently, WashPo prefers a more coercive method: https://www.washingtonpost.com/gdpr-consent/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/gdpr-consent/ Either pay or sell

Apparently, WashPo prefers a more coercive method: https://www.washingtonpost.com/gdpr-consent/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/gdpr-consent/ Either pay or sell yourself. A gamble they might lose if people just stop sharing and click Washpo articles, but a possible route if others follow suit. Meanwhile, NPR goes more hardcore than even USA Today: https://text.npr.org https://text.npr.org I wonder, does that mean EU users are just a nuisance costing traffic, or that all graphics are tracking visitors?

craigsmansion 8y ago
What it means for me personally is that The Washinton Post as well as the NPR can't be relied upon for reporting news, since they are apparently unable to even marginally interpret a legal document aiming for clarity and instead channel their incompetence into snarky behaviour that still isn't compliant with the GDPR. To wit (washpo): "You consent to the use of cookies and tracking by us and third parties to provide you with personalized ads" Where is the "No I don't. Just give me regular/random ads" button? and, "Premium EU subscription" "No on-site advertising or third-party ad tracking" There's nothing specifically EU about that, in fact, it sounds like a good service to offer to all your readers. But still, there's a big difference between on-site advertising and third-party ad tracking, and that difference is at the heart of the GDPR. A half decent journalist could have figured that out. Maybe that's their real problem. But most importantly, and frighteningly, instead of these two stunts being knee-jerk backlash reactions, maybe they're serious and most data-peddlers aren't shady figures in smoke-filled backrooms, but simply the fourth estate en large.
- derrikcurran 8y ago
  What's NPR doing wrong? Are they redirecting to the text-only version for EU IPs or something?
  - Avery3R 8y ago
    I looked at it with an EU proxy, it gives you the choice to either consent or go to the text-only version.
    - derrikcurran 8y ago
      They may have just done that as a cheap and easy way to comply with the new regulations while they wait for the dust to settle. Especially since the text-only version already existed. Also, I wonder how much of Washington Post and NPR's revenue comes from Europeans. It might not even make sense for them to spend resources to be more precise in their compliance.
- Avery3R 8y ago
  for what it's worth text-only npr has been around for a while now
ggg9990 8y ago
> Either pay or sell yourself. What is your preferred third option for content that costs money to make?
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- tomc1985 8y ago
  There are a ton of great business models for financing content that do not require smart ads or the kind of tracking we see today. They are not as exciting but ... tough cookies.
  - ggg9990 8y ago
    Yes.. it’s called charging money... Which some are mad about which is ridiculous.
- class4behavior 8y ago
  I did not judge what method they need to employ. I merely dubbed what they chose as coercion. That said, ads in general do not require personal information, only targeted ads do. But trackers also trade in such data, collect it, build profiles as a service, etc. We will see whether their choice pays off or whether the competition like the NYT will gain some new regulars.

craigsmansion 8y ago

What it means for me personally is that The Washinton Post as well as the NPR can't be relied upon for reporting news, since they are apparently unable to even marginally interpret a legal document aiming for clarity and instead channel their incompetence into snarky behaviour that still isn't compliant with the GDPR. To wit (washpo): "You consent to the use of cookies and tracking by us and third parties to provide you with personalized ads" Where is the "No I don't. Just give me regular/random ads" button? and, "Premium EU subscription" "No on-site advertising or third-party ad tracking" There's nothing specifically EU about that, in fact, it sounds like a good service to offer to all your readers. But still, there's a big difference between on-site advertising and third-party ad tracking, and that difference is at the heart of the GDPR. A half decent journalist could have figured that out. Maybe that's their real problem. But most importantly, and frighteningly, instead of these two stunts being knee-jerk backlash reactions, maybe they're serious and most data-peddlers aren't shady figures in smoke-filled backrooms, but simply the fourth estate en large.

derrikcurran 8y ago
What's NPR doing wrong? Are they redirecting to the text-only version for EU IPs or something?
- Avery3R 8y ago
  I looked at it with an EU proxy, it gives you the choice to either consent or go to the text-only version.
  - derrikcurran 8y ago
    They may have just done that as a cheap and easy way to comply with the new regulations while they wait for the dust to settle. Especially since the text-only version already existed. Also, I wonder how much of Washington Post and NPR's revenue comes from Europeans. It might not even make sense for them to spend resources to be more precise in their compliance.
Avery3R 8y ago
for what it's worth text-only npr has been around for a while now

ggg9990 8y ago

> Either pay or sell yourself. What is your preferred third option for content that costs money to make?

deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
tomc1985 8y ago
There are a ton of great business models for financing content that do not require smart ads or the kind of tracking we see today. They are not as exciting but ... tough cookies.
- ggg9990 8y ago
  Yes.. it’s called charging money... Which some are mad about which is ridiculous.
class4behavior 8y ago
I did not judge what method they need to employ. I merely dubbed what they chose as coercion. That said, ads in general do not require personal information, only targeted ads do. But trackers also trade in such data, collect it, build profiles as a service, etc. We will see whether their choice pays off or whether the competition like the NYT will gain some new regulars.