> Apple does limit tracking [to first party data collection] for iPhone users

Fixed that for ya.

Google is still collecting data on you through Google search. Facebook is still collecting data on you in app. The machine is working as intended. All that changed is that small(er) sites can’t load up on trackers for a few extra bucks. But don’t confuse that with blocking tracking. Oh and Google conveniently released tag manager support for first-party cookies so they track you by pretending not to be 3rd party trackers.

Oh and apple still tracks you throughout iOS even less transparently.

Facebook using information that I give them while using Facebook.com, or the App Store using information about what apps I browse on the App Store, is not exactly a shocker, nor something I particularly find concerning. The word "tracking" doesn't even seem to really apply to this case -- the whole reason tracking is bad is that it means "tracking" me across multiple unrelated websites or apps (like, you know, a tracker would follow the trail of a person or a wild animal), allowing companies to correlate what would otherwise be independent, anonymous profiles.

Apple collecting analytics even with the toggle turned off is clearly wrong. But I don't think they're being sneaky about the usage of the word "tracking".

> The machine is working as intended.

It sounds like you're implying the anti-tracking measures had no effect, but Facebook's revenue numbers would disagree.

The main point was Googles behavior, who is largely unaffected from the tracking crackdown compared to Facebook, and their revenue numbers back it up.

But either way, I think that most people assume tracker-blocking keeps them at least somewhat private, and it’s not as true as the headlines and big corps want you to think it is.

Fair enough -- can't say I disagree with any of that!