It’s a rare chance you get to make a post on February 29th, and I am not about to let it by. February had a few changes worth mentioning that may have slid under the radar – but I wanted to surface for folks.
Upcoming Functionality / Regulations
- During Superweek Google announced they were working on a server side version of Google Tag Manager. Not many details shared, but we should keep an eye on this.
- Enhancements to App+Web were unveiled during Superweek including a more robust Measurement Protocol which leverages keys to protect against Spamming.
- Safari released the first of their ‘explainers‘ which describe what they are hoping to do with the
isLoggedInAPI – Important to watch developments on this as it can change how we have to do measurement in a fundamental way. - Firefox started to deploy their DNS over HTTPS feature in the USA.
- Brave announced plans to have the browser change the layout of the page when it blocks trackers.
- The CCPA had a new draft released and a new comment period as it moves ever so slowly toward regulation status.
- The Android 11 preview builds have begun, including iOS-like controls for location data. We can expect to see less location data in the future if what happened on iOS is any indication.
Changed Functionality
- A Story about uBlock Origin made the rounds, explaining how the extension on Firefox (5 million users) can now take advantage of new APIs in Firefox to decloak CNAME Redirects enabling the extension to block network calls to restricted domains.
Removed Functionality
- Facebook announced plans to close it’s Mobile Web advertising practice.
- Google removed support for the Dimensions ‘Service Provider’ and ‘Network Domain’ in Google Analytics so those fields are no longer populating in reporting. Any Filters you had looking at those Dimensions are no longer working as intended . I’d recommend reviewing your Filter setups just to be on the safe side.