In early 2011, Mozilla added a do-not-track feature in its Firefox browser that allowed users to clearly state that they didn’t want their online activities monitored by websites and advertisers. Other browser vendors soon followed suit, including Microsoft, Apple and Google, seemingly handing consumers a simple way to protect their information that would persist no matter what new collection technology and techniques the industry invented. But more than 2 1/2 years later, flipping on the option still offers scant protection for consumers. Not only can companies freely ignore it – they don’t even have to disclose whether or not they ignore it. At least the latter, however, might soon change. A do-not-track transparency bill has landed on Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk and indications suggest he will sign it before the looming deadline in mid-October.