Google plans to kill off third-party cookies in Chrome ‘within 2 years’

[JohnA]

https://digiday.com/media/google-pla...ithin-2-years/

As the title says.

What will this mean to affiliates, especially in niches such as casino, gambling, etc.

This might completely wipe out entire affiliate programs and sites if I understand the implications correctly.

[The Buzz]

Here's the post from Google's Chromium Blog:

Users are demanding greater privacy--including transparency, choice and control over how their data is used--and it’s clear the web ecosystem needs to evolve to meet these increasing demands. Some browsers have reacted to these concerns by blocking third-party cookies, but we believe this has unintended consequences that can negatively impact both users and the web ecosystem. By undermining the business model of many ad-supported websites, blunt approaches to cookies encourage the use of opaque techniques such as fingerprinting (an invasive workaround to replace cookies), which can actually reduce user privacy and control. We believe that we as a community can, and must, do better.

https://blog.chromium.org/2020/01/bu...h-towards.html

[ddm]

What will this mean to affiliates, especially in niches such as casino, gambling, etc.

Server postback tracking will help in some respects: https://help.tune.com/hasoffers/serv...ing-explained/

[TheGooner]

To be honest - I think it could actually end up positive as many users are actively blocking cookies themselves anyway.
This will force affiliate programs to move forward and find better tracking mechanisms,

[ocreditor]

There are already many solutions for this issues such as using s2s pixel tracking or a code which players need to use when signup in order to get better offer... these solutions and more already better than cookies in my opinion and also will help avoiding traffic loss which may happened if the player is disabling his cookies

[eenzoo]

Yes, bonus codes are an option.

I working for a couple of weeks on my media buy empire (*dancing) and it is terrifying how many AM shake their heads unknowing when asked about postback tracking, we can't, we don't have, it comes soon, what is that ... ofc, it's not their fault, it was only invented just 12 years ago

[baldidiot]

I thought most aff tracking cookies weren't third party though?

Ie: If the cookie is dropped on the end domain after following a tracking link I wouldn't consider that third party. Site A links to Site B, Cookie B is generated once the user reaches Site B.

Or am I missing something?

[Sherlock]

To be honest - I think it could actually end up positive as many users are actively blocking cookies themselves anyway.
This will force affiliate programs to move forward and find better tracking mechanisms,

Yes, those are the more invasive methods like fingerprinting. The fun is about to start. The pressure from both sides for higher privacy and for higher precision is high.

I also hope Google will finally start to push things over the edge and dig their own grave.

[Sherlock]

I thought most aff tracking cookies weren't third party though?

Ie: If the cookie is dropped on the end domain after following a tracking link I wouldn't consider that third party. Site A links to Site B, Cookie B is generated once the user reaches Site B.

Or am I missing something?

You do not miss anything, you are right. Those proposed changed would destroy ad industry but not us for time being. We serve ads directly (in most cases) without tracking of user, so this might hurt the other gambling ad-channels.

That said - many affiliate programs use 3rd party cookies even for tracking (the 3rd party cookie is on their domain, but you got what I mean, it is still 3rd party in that case). That is the case when sportsbook has multiple (for example national) domains and it is a mess already. It will be just a bigger mess.

[Malikbhai]

They would have to pass over Jeff Bezos's dead body, before it tears through the affiliate industry.

[Strider1973]

From my understanding, this is an issue with programs where the affiliate link is not using their main domain.

So for example:
- big issue with link mmwebhandler.aff-online.com/c/12345?sr=67890
- no issue with link www.888poker.com/?sr=12345

Correct?

[sweetbet]

Let's see how much time it will take the dodgy programs to find alternative tracking options.

[PROFRBcom]

From my understanding, this is an issue with programs where the affiliate link is not using their main domain.

So for example:
- big issue with link mmwebhandler.aff-online.com/c/12345?sr=67890
- no issue with link 888poker.com/?sr=12345

Correct?

I don't know one way or the other, but ****... that seems likely to me!

[Sherlock]

From my understanding, this is an issue with programs where the affiliate link is not using their main domain.

So for example:
- big issue with link mmwebhandler.aff-online.com/c/12345?sr=67890
- no issue with link www.888poker.com/?sr=12345

Correct?

the mmwebhandler just leads to 888poker.com so there should be no issue as well as i saw the 888 links, but that is just my opinion

the issue might be at 5dimes or unibet, maybe at ladbrokes and maybe at bwin as well, but they closed my accounts so i can not check (the last two use sometimes landing page like sports.ladbrokes.com, while the tracking cookie is at ladbrokes.com, i think it is the case of 3rd party cookie [domain can give cookie to all subdomains but not vice versa])

[Maxfalcon]

Even if this is about third party cookies, first party cookies are also at stake. As I said already previously, there are plenty of options in addition to cookies, which are no longer 100% reliable. And the pressure is escalating from all sides (users, companies, privacy advocate groups...), so affiliate programs will be obliged to abide...

- Still keep cookies ; (privacy problem)
- Use fingerprinting (works well, until...) ; (privacy problem)
- URI tracking (leaving aff tags in all URIs, so even bookmarks / page storages in apps like Pocket may include your aff tag) ;
- Pre-account registration pages directly on affiliate websites (account is then tagged multi-devices forever without any loss) ;
- Direct sales pages on affiliate websites ;
- Pushing downloads for apps tracking embedding ;
- Unique bonus codes & registration exclusive codes tagged to affiliate accounts ;
- White labeling ;
...

No solution will be perfect, but a mixture of them will ensure the best results.

As for the URI tracking, it can be done with URI parameters, but it can also be done with unique branded URIs as well (basically you get a subdir on their server), so even cache pages in proxies will be kept as is and contain your tracking.

So, relationships will need to be really closer, if they want to keep us as a sales force. This involves work, but nothing impossible.

And last, cookies are now criminalized in the mind of users. Even Cybegrhost VPN is selling lies to their users by telling them that cookies are a threat and that their credit card information may be stored in cookies (!!), just to sell them privacy features. I have the screenshot. There is a business building on top of our head.

So plan accordingly !

[MichaelCorfman]

There is a new blog entry made at Google Webmaster Central Blog on January 16th regarding secure cooking settings.

Here is a link:

Get Ready for New SameSite=None; Secure Cookie Settings

Michael

[DaftDog]

... regarding secure cooking settings.

Michael

Does it matter if you're cooking on gas or electric?

[eenzoo]

- Pre-account registration pages directly on affiliate websites (account is then tagged multi-devices forever without any loss) ;

That's a pretty cool solution ... after a button click, a signup form pops up, after filling name and email he will get a redirect. Sweet.
Postbackpixel/URL would be another good way.
Going the white label way could be mine. Makes sense in many different other ways too.

[Sherlock]

it is not so cool idea to invent the wheel, when the working solution like html storage is already in place of reliable program like bp (maybe whole myaffiliates?)

[PROFRBcom]

it is not so cool idea to invent the wheel, when the working solution like html storage is already in place of reliable program like bp (maybe whole myaffiliates?)

What methodology is this? Can you explain or just provide a link to the tech? I'm not sure what you mean exactly...?