What is the point of all the information given out by your browser? (literature.cafe)

submitted 2 days ago by NannerBanner@literature.cafe to c/nostupidquestions@lemmy.ca

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So the other day someone linked to a website that highlighted how much information is just gifted to any place you visit on the web.

I'm aware of some of it being intrinsic to the manner of connection. A website knowing your IP (even if that is the IP of the vpn or tor exit node you're using) is basically essential to the function of the internet. Why everything else though? What fucking idiot/asshole decided to even have an api for your gpu? Why the fuck is my browser reporting on the battery status? Light/dark mode? Visibility (whether or not the tab is 'active', the fuck?!? My OS?!!???!?!!!?!?!?

As a side question, why is the capability built in by a browser, but the user is never given a choice about whether or not any of this is shared?

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[-] justdaveisfine@piefed.social 3 points 2 days ago

The logic is so that web devs can better tailor sites to your set up. Like don't run fancy graphics for a battery mode laptop, change the theme to match user's theme, etc.

But obviously this is (now) just used to fingerprint and track users for more ad revenue.

[-] masterspace@lemmy.ca 3 points 2 days ago

I feel like most people are missing that the issue is with data selling and brokering.

Ban that and 99% of these concerns go away.

this post was submitted on 23 May 2026

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