What Agentic Browsers See That Others Miss

TL;DR - At a Glance

• Challenge: Most browsers and privacy tools miss key tracking behaviours-especially around consent and cross-site sharing.
• Solution: We used an agentic browser to visit sites like a real user, detect all hidden scripts, and explain who they belong to and why they matter.
• Outcome: The browser uncovered hidden trackers missed by Chrome, Brave, and uBlock; revealed how consent is reused across news brands; and made invisible connections visible to the public.

A New Kind of Visibility

Most browsers show you what you click. A few block what you don't see. Agentic browsers go further-tracking hidden scripts, revealing data flows, and exposing who's watching behind the scenes.

In this case study, we used Comet to analyse six major Dutch news sites. While tools like Chrome and uBlock caught some tracking, Comet uncovered far more: silent third-party scripts, consent violations, and behavioural tracking that started before users agreed to anything.

The findings show why tools like Comet aren't just helpful-they're essential for anyone who wants to understand how the web really works.

Project Snapshot

We explored how an agentic browser can make online tracking more understandable for the general public.

Using six well-known Dutch news sites, we:

• Uncovered full lists of hidden trackers (ads, analytics, social media, consent tools, and more)
• Revealed consent reuse across related sites
• Compared what different tools (Chrome, Brave, uBlock) see versus what actually loads

The result? A clearer, more transparent view of the web-and a tool that can support digital education, privacy awareness, and critical thinking.

The Challenge & Context

We visit news sites every day. But behind the headlines, dozens of third-party scripts load silently-tracking your clicks, choices, and sometimes even your consent.

Even tools like ad blockers or Brave hide some of this, but they rarely explain what's happening. And standard browsers show you nothing. We asked:

Can an AI-powered browser behave like a digital detective, showing what's really happening behind the page?

We picked Dutch news brands like NU.nl, AD.nl, and Trouw.nl, all run by the same company (DPG Media). This gave us the perfect testbed to spot patterns across connected sites.

Our goals:

1. Clarity - make invisible tracking behaviours visible
2. Comparison - test how different tools perform
3. Education - help people understand online tracking more easily

Our Approach

We used Comet, an experimental agentic browser, to simulate real user visits to each site. What makes it different? Unlike traditional tools, Comet:

• Watches every file, script, and request that loads
• Identifies trackers by purpose (ads, consent tools, social, etc.)
• Maps who owns what-and why it matters
• Compares different browser setups (e.g. Chrome vs. Brave)

This turned tracking data into a clear narrative: Who's watching? How are they connected? What changes when you use different tools?

Tools Used

• Comet agentic browser (2025 build)
• Tracker classifier (grouped by ads, consent, analytics, social, unknown)
• Simulated visits with Chrome, Brave, and uBlock setups
• Visual analysis using a simple Venn diagram

What We Found

✅ NU.nl's Tracker Stack

Comet detected 7 trackers on NU.nl:

• 2 Ad trackers (e.g. Google)
• 2 Analytics tools (e.g. dpgmedia.net)
• 1 Consent manager (consensu.org)
• 1 Social plugin (Facebook)
• 1 Unknown domain (reklama.io)

In comparison:

• Chrome showed none
• uBlock blocked ads but missed consent activity
• Brave blocked more, but explained nothing

💡 Only Comet showed everything-and explained each tracker's purpose.

Cross-Site Consent Sharing

We discovered that NU.nl, AD.nl, and Trouw.nl all share the same core tracking setup. A single cookie click on one site allows trackers to activate across all three.

Shared domains include:

• doubleclick.net (ads)
• facebook.com (social)
• dpgmedia.net (analytics)
• consensu.org (consent manager)

“Your consent travels with you. Say yes on one site, and others start tracking too.”

Why This Matters

Agentic browsers help people see the unseen:

• Clarity: They explain what's being loaded and why it matters.
• Comparison: They simulate tools like Brave or uBlock to highlight what's missed.
• Education: Perfect for digital literacy classes, workshops, or research.
• Real-time insight: Spot new or obscure trackers before they're added to blocklists.
• Regulation: Since April 2025, the Dutch Data Protection Authority has been actively enforcing rules against tracking before consent. Agentic browsers expose these violations and provide evidence, as seen in warnings issued to media group DPG.

What We Learnt

Key Takeaways

• Consent tools often behave like trackers themselves
• Cross-site sharing is built into many media networks
• Most tools block-but don't explain

Challenges

• Requires some technical setup (Comet is still experimental)
• Tracker behaviour still needs human interpretation
• Not all tracking is harmful-but users deserve to understand it

Practical Uses & Future Ideas

• Education: Bring tracking audits into classrooms
• Audits: Run quick diagnostics on your own site
• Public awareness: Help citizens see how the web really works

We're also exploring new agentic tools for:

• AI-generated content checks
• Cookie policy audits
• Algorithm fairness reviews

Symbio6 Can Help

At Symbio6, we build tools and stories that make complex AI systems more human-friendly. This case study is just one example. We also offer:

• Workshops on AI, privacy, and web transparency
• On-the-job coaching for AI literacy and decision-making
• Interactive tools for teaching critical thinking and digital skills

“AI lets us explore, not just automate.”

Ready to Explore?

Curious what Dutch news sites are really tracking? Read part 1: How Dutch News Sites Track You

Want to try an agentic browser? Contact us for demos, workshops, or support.