[whatwg] API for unique identification of devices (mobile/tablet/pc)

Karl Dubost karld at opera.com
Thu Dec 13 23:52:02 PST 2012


Le 14 déc. 2012 à 17:51, Stan a écrit :
> If most of the users do this right now, it does not mean they are happy with this,

it doesn't mean they are unhappy about it. Or more exactly that a fraction of them can even look for such a feature.


> Second, user accounts are based on e-mails as a rule, which is not unique at all, every user can have multiple e-mails and multiple registrations.

which is a feature, not a bug. Professional account, personal account, cooking-club account, etc. 

> Many web-services struggle against users' reputation spoofing made via such fake accounts.

That's a different issue.


> Multiple browser profiles on the same device do not matter, because the same device ID will be returned.

In some countries, in Asia and Africa, a single device can be used by multiple people. Internet cafes are another use cases. And shiny tablets can be also for one family.

Basically
device != user != web service


> The main point, if device ID could be available it would provide more great possibilities for users and web-services.

And it would create big challenges in usability and privacy.

-- 
Karl Dubost - http://dev.opera.com/
Developer Relations, Opera Software




More information about the whatwg mailing list