Bengaluru — Alphabet’s Google is set to roll out a dashboard-like function in its Chrome browser to offer users more control in fending off tracking cookies, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter. Cookies are small text files that follow internet users and are used by advertisers to target consumers on the specific interests they have displayed while browsing. While Google’s new tools are not expected to significantly curtail its ability to collect data, it would help the company press its sizable advantage over online-advertising rivals, the newspaper said. Google’s 3-billion users help make it the world’s largest seller of internet ads, capturing nearly a third of all revenue, ahead of rival Facebook’s 20%, according to research firm eMarketer. Total digital ad spending in the US will grow 19% to nearly $130bn in 2019, according to eMarketer. Google has been working on the cookies plan for at least six years, in stops and starts, ...
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