My unpopular opinion: they shouldn't seek consent, this should be completely opt in. Draconian laws should make this happen and flip this backward industry so everything is opposite.

What's the difference between consent and opt-in? Both require the user to actively say yes before it happens, no?

"Asking consent" is the popup that comes up to ask you if you'd like to be tracked.

"Opt-in" is an option hidden somewhere in your "user preferences" page you have to actively go looking for.

“Asking for consent” doesnt automatically mean a pop up. “Asking for consent” isn’t even a technical term. It just means that personal needs to give permission. Exactly like an opt-in option does.

Moreover, popup is still technically a form of “opt-in”. “Opt-in” doesn’t mean the option is hidden. In fact plenty of sites use dark patterns to trick people into opting in.

In that case I don't think this would be an unpopular opinion - I can't think of anyone who would rather have a pop up thrown at you than having adverse side effects (tracking) hidden in some obscure setting you never see.

“Opt in” is literally just in IT way of saying “seek consent”.

You’re arguing for the same thing as the person you’re arguing against.