3 ms·
> You'll only ever retrieve Google AMP cache results from the Google search page, where they were already able to track if you made such a request, since the li
by DevKoala 6y ago
> You'll only ever retrieve Google AMP cache results from the Google search page, where they were already able to track if you made such a request, since the link you clicked has trackers in it.
So from that perspective, nothing changes.
I am not affected, I don’t use Google search. The problem is for individuals who use Google search and now don’t have an option to avoid in deep tracking. The difference between regular pixel trackers and multiple data points associated with every resource a site serves is immense. I work in ad-tech, not particularly in the identification side, but I started multiple projects in that end. From experience, a regular tracker can be fooled, but you cannot fool every resource request. One of the things I did to identify ad fraud bots was actually drive them to a site in which I controlled every resource. The resource request fingerprint for bots was easily distinguishable from real people. Moreover, some humans exhibited navigation patterns that were distinguishable from other humans. I remember I caught a QA person doing a shoddy job of testing the front end once due to it. That is the kind of power that Google is acquiring as more and more sites choose to use AMPs. It is scary to think that a single identity has that power.
- joshuamorton 6y agoNothing beyond the initial page load is served by the AMP cache. If you request additional dynamic resources or navigate to other pages, you'll go to the originating site. I'm confused.
- DevKoala 6y agoIn the example I saw, you could go through a mini site experience; you can “visit” the site without leaving the AMP. I don’t believe this one change, serving images from the AMP cache, is the issue. My concern is with the proliferation of AMPs. A lot of individuals will browse AMPs thinking their browsing is between them and the site publisher without realizing Google is in the middle. Honestly, Google has an okay track record of respecting people’s data. In their AdExchange, they are one of the few that obfuscates the IP address. However it is still concerning that a single entity continues amassing all those browsing patterns from billions of individuals. It can be abused easily, with intent or not.
- gregable 6y ago@DevKoala, do you have an example where you encountered the "mini-site" experience? I haven't seen it, but it could be a bug that would be worth fixing.