Zurich - ETH Zurich researchers have developed a browser extension that uses machine learning processes to detect and automatically block unnecessary cookies. Among other things, the researchers found that 20 percent of websites still set cookies that users had previously expressly rejected.

A new browser extension developed by researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH) by the name of Cookieblock aims to give users complete control over website cookies. With the help of machine learning, the extension automatically filters and blocks these small files that are created in internet browsers that make users identifiable.

Cookieblock can be used with browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Opera. According to a press release issued by ETH Zurich, tests have shown that the browser extension is able to delete more than 90 percent of cookies that collect data about users. The authors of the study published on this subject only found minor impairments in connection with “non-​essential website functions” for 8 percent of the websites with cookie banners. In 7 percent of cases, the extension disrupted the use of the website, for example by losing login information. In such instances, however, individual websites can be excluded from the process.

As part of their investigations, the researchers also checked more than 30,000 websites to see whether the banners comply with the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). In almost 95 percent of cases, they found at least one issue considered to be a potential violation of the GDPR. More than 20 percent of the websites used cookies that users had expressly rejected, while 70 percent activated cookies before the user even interacted with the banner. For Karel Kubíček, who was part of the research group headed up by ETH professor David Basin, this shows “how important it is for users to have control”.

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