To make a choice or decision, especially to choose one alternative over others.
From Latin 'optare' meaning to choose or wish. Related to 'option' and 'optimal'. Entered English in the 19th century as a formal way to express choice or preference.
The phrase 'opt out' has become crucial in digital privacy - it represents a fundamental shift from 'opt in' (you must actively choose) to 'opt out' (you're automatically included unless you actively refuse), reshaping how we think about consent and choice.
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