Study: Tech giants ignore users' privacy options

A recent study conducted by webXray revealed that technology giants Google, Microsoft, and Meta systematically ignore users' options to not be tracked online, even after activating Global Privacy Control (GPC). The Privacy Audit from March 2026 showed that nearly 50% of the analyzed websites do not respect users' preferences, continuing to install tracking cookies.

This non-compliance with the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) is alarming, as 55% of websites set advertising cookies, despite opt-out options. Additionally, most cookie consent banners do not function correctly, and those certified by Google have failure rates between 77% and 91% in respecting 'opt-out' options.

This situation could lead to fines of up to $5.8 billion for companies, highlighting issues related to personal data protection in the online environment.