Brave Browser Leads New Global Privacy Standard

Brave, the popular crypto-enabled web browser, has announced its involvement in a new privacy standard called Global Privacy Control.

Global Privacy Control allows users to set a single setting in their browser, which instructs websites not to track, share, or sell their data.

If the new standard is widely adopted, users will not need to opt-out of web tracking each time they visit a website—an experience that is all too common now.

The standard can already be accessed through several browsers and apps, including Brave, DuckDuckGo, OptMeowt, Privacy Badger, Abine, and Disconnect. Several websites and companies, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Financial Times, have announced plans to comply with the standard.

Global Privacy Control has been compared to previous privacy efforts such as Do Not Trace.

However, this new standard has stronger legal backing. The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) suggest privacy controls of this type.

Though the standard isn’t legally binding yet, the existence of those laws could encourage companies to comply with it.

Global Privacy Control is not directly related to Brave’s cryptocurrency or blockchain features, nor will the new standard provide extra security for holding cryptocurrency.

The company’s privacy efforts do, however, make room for Brave’s own BAT token-based advertising economy. Several mainstream news sites—including The Guardian, the LA Times, and The Washington Post—have already registered as Brave verified publishers to earn additional revenue.

Standards that discourage traditional user data collection could cause publishers to turn toward Brave and other alternate revenue sources.

Today’s news suggests that some companies are willing to further work on privacy with the tech industry, at least when there is a significant coalition behind the suggestion.