Tillmann Prüfer is a member of the editor-in-chief of “Zeit-Magazin”.
I’m one of those people who like to use the Internet. But I’m not good at it. Like when I search on Google. There used to be a line where I had to enter a search term and I was good to go.
Now a window appears in which I have to confirm that I agree to the Google search. If not, I can adjust them. I can then determine what restrictions my search should have, what type of advertising I want or don’t want.
When I look at any website, I am always asked if I consent to being sent cookies. Cookies are small programs that enable the website to understand who is logged in and what else I am looking at.
They can use cookies to track me all over the web, so that I can then be presented with the appropriate advertising on the respective website. The legislature did not like this and decreed that users must be able to refuse cookies.
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Since then there has been a banner on every page informing that the website uses cookies, which are actually only for our good. But of course we can also choose which cookies we want to accept and which not.
Leaving my organs to the Alphabet Group
When I click the banner, I’m presented with a menu of choices that looks like a fine dining restaurant’s wine list. It overwhelms me when I have to constantly choose. Choosing means making considerations and making decisions. Do I only want technically necessary cookies? Do I want to receive advertising? Can my data be saved?
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As soon as I walk the path, I have to walk it to the end, then I have to fill out a kind of form like at the office. I just wanted to watch a video with a cute donkey.
So I always click “I agree to all cookies” and I give my okay to everything and everyone. So I allow a corporation to track me on the Internet to the end of days just because I don’t want to make decisions. That’s degrading.
It would be much easier if they just stole my data, followed me secretly. Then I could feel like a victim and get upset about the ongoing evil internet corporations. But as it is, I am the culprit myself.
I myself am the one who repeatedly agrees to having my data tapped. I would agree to anything as long as I don’t have to click anything strenuous. I would bequeath my organs to the Alphabet Corporation. Maybe I already have. Like I said, I’m bad at using the internet.
More: Driven into the Darknet by the Bürgeramt