Google’s third-party cookie killer is almost ready for beta testing on Android
Google’s advertising business heavily relies on third-party cookies, and there are many problems coming with them. They’re invasive to your privacy and can track you around the web, knowing exactly which websites you’ve visited and what you’ve clicked on. Google wants to fix the situation with a more privacy-friendly approach, the so-called Privacy Sandbox. It’s supposed toreplace third-party cookies on Google platforms altogether in 2024, but until then, a lot of testing needs to be done. And that’s just what Google will soon enable on Android.As Google has announced, developers can sign up for the Privacy Sandbox beta early next year.
The Privacy Sandbox beta will roll out to devices runningAndroid 13. This follows a developer preview and makes it possible to test the third-party cookie replacement in more environments. The developer preview will continue to exist, though, and it will receive updates and new features before the beta. In contrast to the developer preview, developers will need to enroll for the test, verifying their identity and give the API specific data about themselves to make it work better. Google offers these sign-ups onthe Android Developers website. Google additionally requires developers to joinan early testers program.
To support the Privacy Sandbox, developers will have to compile their apps to target API level 33 (which is Android 13). It will receive an extension enabling necessary features in the near future.
Privacy Sandbox was supposed to roll out this year in stable already, but the company kept pushing back the date, with a full 2024 release now targeted, complete with the sunsetting of third-party cookies.
Correction:The article previously claimed Privacy Sandbox is replacing Google’s initial replacement for third-party cookies, FLoC. In fact, Privacy Sandbox is an overarching initiative that covers multiple APIs. Within the Privacy Sandbox, FLoC was replaced by Topics.
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