Silent and Hidden: Online Surveillance in the “Cookieless World”

Abstract

The concept of a “cookieless world” refers to emerging methods designed to replace cookies, a traditional tool in online surveillance processes. Over the past two decades, cookies have become a cornerstone technology for online tracking and surveillance, enabling significant profits for major technology companies and the advertising industry. However, privacy concerns surrounding the use of cookies have led to their increasing restriction by browsers and stringent regulation through legal frameworks. In response, the industry has sought alternatives by developing new products and adopting advanced surveillance tactics. This study explores the concept of a cookieless world, next-generation surveillance methods, and their implications for privacy. Although the existing literature includes only a limited number of studies on internet cookies, there is no scholarly work specifically addressing the cookieless world. The findings of this study reveal that cookieless surveillance technologies are less visible, more challenging to detect, and harder to block compared to traditional methods.