An investigation into third-party cookies
This work explores the persistence of third-party cookies, a technology Google has repeatedly tried—and failed—to phase out. Known to most EU citizens as the cause of those annoying consent pop-ups on websites, these cookies highlight the difficulty of moving beyond entrenched digital practices and the influence of surveillance capitalism. The object features a plate made from glass, electronics, and plastics—core materials that constitute the internet’s physical infrastructure. Inside, a web crawler collects third-party cookies and converts the data into binary code, displayed as light signals within glass rods, mimicking data flow in fiber-optic cables. By making this hidden process visible, the work invites visitors to reflect on the pervasive nature of digital tracking.
Bio
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Photo: Anna HadaierMarie Dvorzak
AT
Marie Dvorzak (she/her) is a designer and programmer with a focus on creative coding, critical design research and the visual & technical development of complex web applications. She recently completed the Information Design Masters Program at the Design Academy Eindhoven and is now working as a freelance creative in Vienna.