Uassets: Remove GTM / Google Tag Manager as a tracker

[cosminstefanxp]

URL(s) where the issue occurs

https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?

Describe the issue

I would like to propose the removal of Google Tag Manager as a privacy tracker. My feeling is that it hurts the environment a lot, both for developers and for users, without bringing in any real gains, since the loaded tags would get blocked anyway, if they are trackers.

It's not tracking anything by itself. It's a tool for managing different JS based tools. If the tracking tools themselves are blocked (e.g. Google Analytics or Facebook Pixel), there's no reason to block Google Tag Manager.

For example, via GTM, some websites might provide support features, based on user actions. This is not tracking in any way and the user ends up being hurt by this.

Another example is: mozilla-services/shavar-prod-lists#46, where GCP stackdriver console is broken due to this.

Further examples of situations where GTM would be beneficial:

• adding support tools for users, depending on the place they are in the app (e.g. the "it seems you're stuck on this. Do you need help?";
• monitoring of performance of remote dependencies;
• consoles (such as GCP's);

Furthermore, Google has made it clear that they are not persisting or using any tracking data in their policy.

Versions

• Browser/version: Firefox
• uBlock Origin version: 1.24.4

[mapx-]

@gorhill

[gorhill]

Having a page page causes a connection to googletagmanager.com is the problem in the first place -- this causes requests to be logged on Google servers.

The ideal case is zero 3rd parties -- this is the ideal which motivates uBO's default configuration. Also, it does not matter whether a 3rd party makes promise of not using the data, from a user's point of view this is unverifiable, and uBO serves user interests first.

Declined.

[cosminstefanxp]

On a serious note I still believe my point to be valid. Tag Manager itself is a tool. Considering that whatever is inside would be blocked anyway if harmful, blocking it does not serve users' interests first, as it blocks all content, without evaluating its benefit and/or utility for the user. Furthermore, users will not know they are missing on useful content.

That being said, the fact that the experience of millions of people worldwide is possibly affected negatively (without even knowing) by a single person's quickly made decision on a github issue is in itself a serious issue in my view, but let's keep the ethics and politcs out of it.

PS: I'm an uBlock user and have been for years. But only recently I've hit this issue as a developer and I've realised how serious it is and that many times I had problems with websites due to this single issue.

// I really can't believe you've just said "The ideal case is zero 3rd parties". I would challenge you to build an entire, serious website, without any 3rd party software or libraries.

[gorhill]

millions of people worldwide is possibly affected negatively (without even knowing) by a single person's quickly made decision on a github issue

googletagmanager.com has been blocked by EasyPrivacy for years. uBO just added ability to redirect the blocked request to a local neutered version which lowers likelihood of breakage.

[kulfoon]

Yes, perhaps cosminstefanxp wanted to create an issue about GTM in EasyPrivacy's issue tracker: LINK 1 / LINK 2, as this is the main list that blocks GTM in the first place, for years already, and "uBlock filters – Privacy" only adds a redirection, to the EasyPrivacy's GTM filter, to make it less destructive, hence it's not uBO who should be blamed for blocking BTW in the first place, in addition, uBO should be rather praised for making EasyPrivacy GTM filter less destructive.