We spoke with Jeremy Tillman, President of Ghostery, about how the cooperation with Cliqz has changed and what impact the Corona crisis has had on privacy on the Internet.
Cliqz GmbH, a German company owned by Mozilla and Hubert Burda Media, has bought the popular Ghostery brand and its anti-tracking browser extensions and mobile apps. Ghostery – headquartered in New York City – is specialised in anti-tracking and counts more than 10 million users worldwide. With the acquisition of Ghostery, Cliqz spurs its international growth and opens its first office in the U.S.
Privacy in the spotlight
Cliqz and Ghostery focus on protecting the privacy of internet users. Both companies have developed a browser add-on which blocks hidden trackers that pass on private data. In addition, Cliqz has developed a new browser that brings users directly to their destination without any detour via other search engine websites: The so-called “human web technology” works with statistical, anonymous data based on actual search queries and website visits of users as a group. With the acquisition of Ghostery and its worldwide user base Cliqz will be able to develop these web indices not only for Germany but literally any other country and language.
“With the current practice of online tracking, the ad tech industry puts your privacy at risk. It only takes some very simple steps to assign website visits to you and to build a profile. Your online behavior reveals the most intimate information such as your financial or health status, sexual preferences or political attitudes. In these times of increasing surveillance and shameless commercialisation of private data, there’s a need for solutions that protect you from being tracked. Cliqz fights for the restitution of user privacy. With the acquisition of Ghostery, we ramp up our weaponry. The 10 million Ghostery users spread around the world are a milestone on our way to becoming a global technology leader in privacy protection.”
Jean-Paul Schmetz, founder and managing director of Cliqz
For additional information please find here Cliqz’s and Evidon’s press releases.
