WordPress, the popular web content management system, has announced that a new version will host code to disable Google’s FLoC system.
FLoC has become very controversial in recent times.
It seems that various web activists have decided in a relatively coordinated move to express their direct opposition to Google’s new system for creating online profiles of users. In this regard, another activist has recently joined the anti-Google front and made news.
According to MSPoweruser , WordPress opposes Google’s FLoC system in a statement , and it through grouping people based on their search habits is likely to lead to more use of people’s data and discrimination among them. Google’s new system also predominantly targets simple customers and shares user data without their knowledge.
WordPress says that without the institute’s action, most WordPress-based non-technical websites will unknowingly join Google’s FLoC system and help this giant Mountain View online profile user.
Therefore, WordPress has decided to add the following code to its source code and announce that it will not participate in Google’s large FLoC project:
function disable_floc ($ headers) { $ headers ['Permissions-Policy'] = 'interest-cohort = ()'; return $ headers; } add_filter ('wp_headers', 'disable_floc');
WordPress says that those webmasters who have enough information about the nature of it can remove the above code from their site and contribute to the FLoC system if they wish. It has also been suggested that future versions of WordPress may host an option to enable or disable the FLoC feature to make it easier for webmasters.
A new version of WordPress is applied in version 5.8 of this content management system, the release of which is scheduled for July 2021 (July and August 1400).
WordPress is also said to be considering adding FloC-disabled code to earlier versions of its content management system to expand the scope of new change coverage.
In recent times, we have seen the serious opposition of many browsers to Google’s FLoC system.
The main concern is that Google will use its unwarranted dominance of the Web as a lever to pressure website owners to participate in FLoC. If it really becomes ubiquitous, WordPress probably won’t be able to effectively block web admins.
In such a situation, direct action by regulators would be the only solution. Fifteen attorneys general in the United States are said to be seeking action.
Google is trying to replace artificial intelligence-based FLoC, which is based on artificial intelligence, with more targeted cookies. Using machine learning technology, FLoC monitors search history and some other information and puts users into different groups based on their behavior. These groups will include thousands of people with common interests.
Then, Google’s partner advertising companies can target their ads to a specific group of users to increase the effectiveness of the ad.