Screenshot: Why is google-analytics needed

andy_morris22 · April 28, 2019, 2:18pm

After reading some complaints about this section of code (as it will introduce an easy way to gather data on the users without their control)(I am parroting concerns, I don’t acutally know)

github.com

mozilla-services/screenshots/blob/master/server/src/ga-activation.js

/* Code to create the Google Analytics code for a Firefox Screenshots page.
   Stubs out ga() if no gaId is configured
   Disables analytics if Do-Not-Track is set
   Hashes page names
   */

const React = require("react"); // eslint-disable-line no-unused-vars

const dntJs = `
// Copied from https://github.com/mozilla/bedrock/blob/22079855caeb660724319f735de51e3a7472a50f/media/js/base/dnt-helper.js
function _dntEnabled(dnt, ua) {

    'use strict';

    // for old version of IE we need to use the msDoNotTrack property of navigator
    // on newer versions, and newer platforms, this is doNotTrack but, on the window object
    // Safari also exposes the property on the window object.
    var dntStatus = dnt || navigator.doNotTrack || window.doNotTrack || navigator.msDoNotTrack;
    var ua = ua || navigator.userAgent;

This file has been truncated. show original

I guess for me, since more code means more maintinace and slower performance, the question is why is this included?

jscher2000 · April 28, 2019, 9:29pm

Like many service providers, Mozilla uses third party analytics services to evaluate use of its websites. Some of the implementation details can be found here:

net333 · June 25, 2019, 3:59pm

and at the end of the day, what magnificent insights did they gain from all this “evaluation”? Did it remind them to renew certificates in time?