Abstract

http://ssrn.com/abstract=1446862
  
 

References (11)



 
 

Citations (3)



 


 



Flash Cookies and Privacy


Ashkan Soltani


University of California, Berkeley - School of Information

Shannon Canty


Clemson University

Quentin Mayo


Jacksonville State University

Lauren Thomas


Louisiana State University

Chris Jay Hoofnagle


University of California, Berkeley - School of Law, Berkeley Center for Law & Technology; School of Information
August 10, 2009


Abstract:     
This is a pilot study of the use of 'Flash cookies' by popular websites. We find that more than 50% of the sites in our sample are using flash cookies to store information about the user. Some are using it to 'respawn' or re-instantiate HTTP cookies deleted by the user. Flash cookies often share the same values as HTTP cookies, and are even used on government websites to assign unique values to users. Privacy policies rarely disclose the presence of Flash cookies, and user controls for effectuating privacy preferences are lacking.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 8

Keywords: Privacy, tracking, flash, cookies, local stored objects, usability, online advertising, behavioral targeting, self-help

JEL Classification: D18


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Date posted: August 11, 2009  

Suggested Citation

Soltani, Ashkan and Canty, Shannon and Mayo, Quentin and Thomas, Lauren and Hoofnagle, Chris Jay, Flash Cookies and Privacy (August 10, 2009). Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1446862 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1446862

Contact Information

Ashkan Soltani
University of California, Berkeley - School of Information ( email )
102 South Hall
Berkeley, CA 94720-4600
United States
Shannon Canty
Clemson University ( email )
United States
Quentin Mayo
Jacksonville State University ( email )
700 Pelham Rd N
Jacksonville, AL 36265
United States
Lauren Thomas
Louisiana State University ( email )
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
United States
Chris Jay Hoofnagle (Contact Author)
University of California, Berkeley - School of Law, Berkeley Center for Law & Technology ( email )
344 Boalt Hall
Berkeley, CA 94720-7200
United States
510-643-0213 (Phone)
HOME PAGE: http://https://hoofnagle.berkeley.edu
School of Information ( email )
102 South Hall
Berkeley, CA 94720-4600
United States
HOME PAGE: http://https://hoofnagle.berkeley.edu
Feedback to SSRN


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References:  11
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