Summary

• Google’s proposal, Web Environment Integrity (WEI), aims to send tamper-proof information about a user’s operating system and software to websites.
• The information sent would help reduce ad fraud and enhance security, but it also raises concerns about user autonomy and control over devices.
• The authors argue that implementing WEI could lead to websites blocking access for users not on approved systems and browsers.
• They express worries about companies gaining more control over users’ devices and the potential for abuse.
• The authors emphasize that users should have the final say over what information their devices share.
• Remote attestation tools, like WEI, might have their place in specific contexts but should not be implemented on the open web due to potential negative consequences.
• The authors advocate for preserving user autonomy and the openness of the web, emphasizing that users should be the ultimate decision-makers about their devices.

Joke:

Two pieces of string walk into a bar. The first piece of string asks for a drink. The bartender says, “Get lost. We don’t serve pieces of string.”

The second string ties a knot in his middle and messes up his ends. Then he orders a drink.

The bartender says, “Hey, you aren’t a piece of string, are you?” The piece of string says, “Not me! I’m a frayed knot.”