Mozilla's Chief Legal and Business Officer, Denelle Dixon-Thayer has written a blog post asking the internet industry to try to understand why people use adblockers. The question remains unanswered and according to Dixon-Thayer depends on the type of user and the used device.
Desktop users are more concerned about privacy and performance, while mobile users want to reduce energy and bandwidth consumption. " We as an industry need to understand the user’s needs", according to Dixon-Thayer.
"User needs and commercial interests are not a zero-sum game – they are complementary parts of one thriving, resilient Web. Creating a balance between commercial profit and user benefit is critical to the health of the Web", she added.
Collection of data is nevertheless important, according to Dixon-Thayer, "Providing user value through data collection is a healthy and necessary way to help create compelling experiences. However, when data is collected without providing the user with value or control, and the value exchange becomes opaque, confusion sets in. Then users start to mistrust the entire system—including the good actors."
Mozilla now aims to find the root of the problem, not only by researching but also by developing features and products that improve trust in the web. To make these improvements Mozilla needs user input and therefore asks users to test the new beta of Firefox Private Browsing with Tracker Protection. This feature should provide users more control over the collection of data.
"As an industry we need to keep the user at the center of the product vision rather than viewing the user as just a target to acquire. It’s the only way to honor the user’s choice and deliver the best, most trusted and most valuable experiences possible", Dixon-Thayer concludes.
