There is something much bigger to address with these services. First it is important to expose the fact that a Saudi Prince is the second largest stockholder in Twitter. This could be an issue of National Security considering the tracking cookies these social sites and Google install in everyone’s computer every time they log in.
All these services... Google, Youtube, Facebook, and Twitter install subroutines along with their cookies that follow you everywhere you go even when not logged in or using their services. None of these have a disclaimer or anything in their contract that they are going to do this to users and it is very intrusive and most likely illegal because it is done completely without your knowledge.
Check it for yourself. Anyone who has a good ad/cookie blocker (like Ghostery) list can do this. Clear everything and come to the FR. You will see just one tracker pop up, Google analytics. Then go log into Twitter, Facebook, Gmail and log back out. Or even just go watch a Youtube video and then come back to the FR which you KNOW has only one tracker.
After this your list will pop up two here. But it will not show what this tracker is in your list, it is invisible to even these good ad blockers. Then clear your cookies and return back here, it will once again show only one.
I did this with everyone of these sites one at a time and had the same thing happen. They are tracking everything you do on the net without your knowledge even if you are logged out and not using their services.
Being private companies DOES NOT give them the legal right to do this without your knowledge.
#40. Wonderful information, thanks.