Your browser can tell websites how to treat your data. But companies didn’t have to listen — until now

A special signal known as global privacy control tells every website you visit not to pass around your personal data behind your back. Global privacy control is already tucked away in Web browser Brave and browser add-on DuckDuckGo. Soon, the Firefox browser will be adding it. Firefox says it’s rolling out the global privacy control signal to its main product in the next two or three months, according to Chief Technology Officer Eric Rescorla. Chrome users, however, must continue to wait. It’s a big deal because asking websites or apps not to share or sell your personal information involves hunting through company websites and submitting a “do not sell” request to each and every offender. If you live in California, you have some protection for your data under the California Consumer Privacy Act, and companies have to honor these requests. If you live elsewhere, you’re often out of luck. But tools like GPC lay the groundwork for easier management of personal data as more states consider passing data privacy legislation.