Mozilla has removed the Do Not Track (DNT) feature that has been present in Firefox since 2009, according to Windows Report. It was the first browser to introduce this feature. This change will be available to all users who install version 135 and above, but Nightly users who have decided to test the experimental builds may already see that this option is not available in their browser settings.
Firefox is not the first browser to remove the DNT feature. In fact, Apple already did it in 2019 for Safari.
Before criticizing Mozilla’s decision, it is important to understand what a DNT is. It’s not an order, it’s just a suggestion to websites to stop tracking you. However, most websites ignore DNT requests, which means they are completely useless in today’s context. The Firefox help page also reflects this upcoming change.
Instead of the DNT request, Mozilla is offering Firefox users the option to select “Prevent websites from selling or sharing my data”. This option uses the Global Privacy Shield (GPC), which is followed by more websites and is even mandatory in some jurisdictions.
If you care more about privacy, using GPC may not be sufficient for your needs. We recommend using a VPN.
