// tracking

Source: Ars Technica

AliExpress deployed ultrasonic fingerprinting—a tracking method that embeds imperceptible audio signals into webpages to create unique device identifiers—revealing how Chinese e-commerce platforms are adopting covert surveillance tactics that Western retailers have largely abandoned due to privacy pushback. This technique is particularly valuable for high-fraud marketplaces because it persists across incognito browsing and cookie deletion, making it effective against both consumer evasion and regulatory scrutiny. The disclosure exposes a gap in enforcement standards between jurisdictions: European regulations and browser makers have pressured U.S. and EU sites away from aggressive tracking, while platforms operating in less-regulated markets face minimal consequences for deploying fingerprinting methods that remain effective despite their age.