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Article snippet: The Internet has democratized access to information and delivered a dazzling array of free online services, like search, news, maps, and social media. But imagine a world where the next time you use a search engine, instead of seeing results, you see a requirement to enter a credit card. Or the next time you visit USA Today there is fewer content and even more ads on the screen. In this alternate world, you are bombarded with pop-ups and interstitials, all of which are asking for consent in various ways: blanket consent for use of all "sensitive" information, consent for use of some sensitive information, consent for use of sensitive and non-sensitive information, and so on. It's hard to argue that this world would be an improvement for user experience, much less user privacy. On its face, the BROWSER Act seems like pro-consumer privacy legislation. But it’s actually an awful deal for Americans who’ve come to depend on free online content and services. The U.S. has been the global source for Internet innovation, enabling robust user experiences and content — without requiring you to pay anything at all. Of course, advertisers fund this “free” content, much like how broadcast radio and television. Interest-based ads are the most common and cost efficient form of ads. They are a modern-day version of “know thy customer.” Rather than bombarding users with random pitches, interest-based ads show consumers fewer and more relevant ads, creating a more appealing an... Link to the full article to read more