Apple has added the “Do Not Track” option to the latest version of its default browser, Safari, catching up with the rest of the browser market. The Federal Trade Commission suggested the feature late last year during an investigation of ways to protect consumer privacy and, since then, most major browsers have adopted it.
“Do Not Track” gives users the ability to identify and opt out of certain type of online tracking.
Microsoft first demonstrated the functionality as part of its then-upcoming browser, Internet Explorer 9, last December. Then, in January, Mozilla added the functionality to Firefox, while Google announced a browser extension to perform a similar function.
Today, Apple rounded out the list of major browsers by adding “Do Not Track” to a test version of Safari. According to The Wall Street Journal, “the tool is included within the latest test release of Lion, a version of Apple’s Mac OS X operating system that is currently available only to developers.”
The addition leaves Chrome as the only major browser without built-in “Do Not Track” support.
When Google announced the browser extension, an FTC spokesperson was quoted in The New York Times as saying, “We’re pleased that Google is engaged in the process, but Mozilla and Microsoft are clearly steps ahead.” It looks like Apple has joined the pack.
