Global Privacy Control and your privacy choices online

Key points

• Global Privacy Control is a free browser setting that tells websites to stop sharing your personal data.
• You can activate the signal using browsers like Brave or extensions like Privacy Badger.
• Websites that honor your request will stop selling your data to outside advertising networks.
• Using privacy settings will not stop you from taking surveys or earning rewards on our platform.

What Global Privacy Control is and how it works

Have you ever looked at a pair of shoes online and then seen ads for those exact shoes on other websites? That happens because the first website shared your browsing history with advertising networks. These networks track you across the internet to build a profile of your interests.

You can stop this from happening by asking websites not to sell or share your data. In the past, you had to click a small link at the bottom of every single website to make this request. Doing this on every new page is frustrating and takes too much time.

Global Privacy Control, often called GPC, makes this much easier. It is a setting in your web browser that acts like an automatic broadcast. When you turn it on, your browser sends a hidden electronic signal to every website you visit. The signal simply tells the site that you do not want them to sell or share your personal information.

Browsers and extensions that send the signal

You do not need to be a technology expert to use Global Privacy Control. Many popular web browsers have it built right in. For example, if you use the Brave browser or the DuckDuckGo browser, the signal is turned on by default. You do not have to do anything at all. Firefox also includes this feature in its privacy settings. You just need to check a box to turn it on.

If you use a browser like Chrome or Safari, you will need to add a browser extension. A browser extension is a small piece of software that adds extra features to your web browser. Privacy Badger and OptMeowt are two common extensions that add the privacy signal to your browser.

Once installed, these tools work in the background without interrupting your reading or shopping. You only need to set them up once, and they will protect your privacy on every website you open.

What happens when a website honors your request

When a website receives your signal, it must stop certain types of data tracking. The site will stop sharing your personal information with third party advertising networks. It will also stop selling your data to data brokers. Data brokers are companies that collect public and private records to build profiles on people.

When the website honors your signal, your daily internet experience will stay mostly the same:

• You will still see advertisements, but they will be generic instead of based on your past browsing habits.
• The website will still remember what is in your shopping cart if you leave the page.
• You can still log into your accounts and use the website normally.
• The website can still collect information to make its own services work properly.

The signal only restricts sharing with outside companies. The website you are actually visiting can still function exactly as it did before. You will not lose access to any features.

Privacy laws that recognize the signal

Not every website in the world will listen to your request. However, several privacy laws legally require companies to respect the Global Privacy Control signal. When a law backs up your request, companies face fines if they ignore you.

In the United States, several state privacy laws recognize the signal as a valid request to opt out of data sharing. If you live in California, Colorado, or Connecticut, websites are required by law to honor your signal. We have a guide covering Your California privacy rights as a survey panel member if you want to know more about this specific region.

In Europe, privacy laws like the General Data Protection Regulation treat the signal as a formal objection to data processing. You can read more about Your GDPR rights as a survey panel member in our dedicated article.

Privacy laws change often as governments write new rules. For the most accurate and current information on your legal rights, you should always check official government websites or speak to a qualified legal adviser.

How to tell if a website is honoring your signal

It can be hard to know if a website is actually paying attention to your privacy preferences. You cannot physically see the electronic signal leaving your computer. You also will not receive an email or an alert confirming that the site blocked the tracking networks.

Some websites try to make it clear. They might display a small message at the bottom of the screen saying they have received your request. Other sites will automatically update their cookie preference banners. Instead of asking you to accept or reject tracking cookies, the banner might show that tracking is already turned off.

However, many websites process the request quietly. They update their systems in the background without showing you any notification. If you are using a trusted browser or extension, you can trust that the signal is being sent.

How this fits with survey panels and market research

As a member of Reward Hours, you might wonder how privacy settings affect your ability to take paid online surveys. When you join a research panel, you agree to share your opinions and some demographic details with us. This is how we match you to relevant surveys, product tests, and focus groups.

You can review How online survey panels work, and where your answers go to see the exact process. Using Global Privacy Control will not stop you from receiving survey invitations. It will not break the survey platform or prevent you from earning points.

If you choose to use the signal, it simply acts as an extra layer of privacy while you browse the rest of the internet.

Taking control of your online privacy choices

Managing your privacy online does not have to be frustrating. You have the right to decide who gets to profit from your personal information. Global Privacy Control gives you a simple way to set your boundaries once and carry them with you across the web.

It takes only a few minutes to download a privacy browser or turn on an extension. Once it is running, you can forget about it. You can read the news, shop for groceries, or share your opinions on our platform knowing your preferences are clear.

If you are ready to share your opinions in a secure space and earn rewards, you can create a free account with us today.

Common questions

Does Global Privacy Control block all website cookies?

No, the signal does not block all cookies. It only stops websites from sharing your personal data with outside companies. Essential cookies that keep you logged in or remember your language settings will still work normally.

Do I have to pay to use Global Privacy Control?

No, the privacy signal is completely free to use. You can access it by downloading a free web browser like Brave or adding a free extension like Privacy Badger to your current browser.

Will using a privacy signal affect my survey earnings?

Using a privacy signal will not change how you take surveys or earn rewards on our platform. Your points and rewards are tied to your account, which works perfectly fine with privacy settings turned on.