In 2023, just over a third (36%) of those who use the web in the European Union, aged 16 to 74, have changed their internet browser settings to prevent tracking of their online activities.
This was stated by a Eurostat survey, which analyzed people's behavior during three months of online use.
According to the results, 21% of respondents have relied on additional software that limits the ability to track browsing.
Since January 4 this year, Google has activated, by default, the blocking of cookie collection for 1% of those who use Chrome, the browser it develops in-house used, according to StatCounter, by over 65% of users online.
Cookies are small files stored in each visitor's browser that represent a unique trace of their passage.
These contain information about preferences but may also include other sensitive information, which allows you to recognize your settings when you return to sites already visited.
For Eurostat, the highest percentage of users who have limited the collection of cookies is found in Finland (66%), the Netherlands (56%), Luxembourg (47%), Denmark (46%) and Germany (45%).
By contrast, the lowest percentages are in Romania and Bulgaria (both 12%), Cyprus (20%), Slovenia (26%) and Italy (27%).
Among EU countries, almost half of users in Belgium (49%) use software to limit their ability to track activities.
These are followed by Malta (38%), the Netherlands and Croatia (both 32%).
On the other hand, citizens of Cyprus (3%), Bulgaria (7%), Romania and Italy (both 12%) are the least likely to use software to avoid data tracking.
According to a study conducted by IDC analysts for the digital agency Ogury, 60% of companies believe that cookies will become obsolete within a short time, so much so that they represent a source of risk for customer privacy.
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