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I understand the opt-in rather than opt-out, but does disabling Ads Personalization [1] not do what you're asking?

[1]: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated?hl=en

No, a Google account shouldn’t be required.

Why not? How else would Google know who not to track? It's not like they can identify you and remember that preference without a Google account...

Yes, that's why targeted ads shouldn't be a thing unless it's opt-in (not necessarily my opinion but it seems to be the point the parent was making). At that point, to opt-in you can create a google account. Currently though, Google will attempt targeted ads on people without a Google account by trying to identify and track them through other means.

Ideally you would have site-specific or content-specific ads normally and personalized ads if you created an account and chose to opt-in.

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