Nothing to do with this article, but... when did "legitimate interest" become the thing advertisers^Wtrackers are (ab)using to keep tracking on by default? It'

Nothing to do with this article, but... when did "legitimate interest" become the thing advertisers^Wtrackers are (ab)using to keep tracking on by default? It's not due to a change in legislation afaikt, the GDPR hasn't changed in this regard, right?