Do Not Track (DNT) is a browser setting that tells websites not to place cookies. It has two components: a signal that lets users say they don’t want to be tracked and guidelines for how organizations should respond.
DNT was intended to shield users from online tracking and minimize targeted advertising. Unfortunately, as it lacks a mechanism for enforcement, the setting was never able to effectively limit browser tracking.
Ultimately, DNT is only a request, one that’s not supported by any major privacy legislation. Companies aren’t compelled to stop tracking a user’s online movements after receiving a DNT signal, so many just ignore it.
Despite its shortcomings, DNT is still supported by Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Google Chrome—though not Apple Safari.