EmbeddingGemma 2: an open, lightweight multimodal embedding model
deepmind.google·6d ago
AI Engineering
Hacker News·10d ago·5 min read
A 20-year-long permanent cookie: America.gov and tracking
TL;DR
America.gov has been launched as a centralized AI-driven portal for federal services, promising strong privacy protections. However, its underlying Login.gov system raises concerns due to the introduction of long-lived tracking identifiers.
✦ Why It Matters
Evaluate your own systems for similar tracking mechanisms and ensure user privacy is prioritized.
Key Takeaways
- Understand the implications of persistent identifiers in user tracking.
- Review privacy policies related to federal digital services.
- Monitor updates from GSA regarding America.gov's privacy assessments.
- Engage in discussions about user consent and data retention practices.
How It Works
America.gov utilizes Login.gov for authentication, which now includes a function that generates a unique identifier (nds_experiment_uuid) for each browser. This identifier is stored as a permanent cookie, allowing the system to track user interactions over a long period, even before authentication occurs.
⚠ The Catch
Despite claims of privacy, the long-lived identifier raises concerns about potential tracking of user behavior across multiple visits, which could lead to privacy violations.