The federal government asked Google to turn over information on anyone who viewed multiple YouTube videos. Privacy experts say the orders are unconstitutional.
You know that ?si= at the end of the YouTube URL that is copied when you share a video from within the YouTube app?
That’s an individual tracking ID specific to you. So if you’ve ever shared a YouTube video on lemmy, reddit, Facebook, tiktok, or anywhere else without removing that code one time, anyone at Google with access to the ID system can now link you to that account with your real name, IP address and time accessed, device name, etc.
As a google user, what… what am I doing wrong right?
Using a browser instead of the YouTube app?
Unless you’re talking about Google links then yes. Amazon too, along with many other services. There’s a ClearURLs Firefox add-on to remove them automatically.
But it’s insidious with YouTube because people are much more likely to share YouTube videos on a public forum, and they just randomly started doing it one day.
You know that ?si= at the end of the YouTube URL that is copied when you share a video from within the YouTube app?
That’s an individual tracking ID specific to you. So if you’ve ever shared a YouTube video on lemmy, reddit, Facebook, tiktok, or anywhere else without removing that code one time, anyone at Google with access to the ID system can now link you to that account with your real name, IP address and time accessed, device name, etc.
While I see that x10,000 with google links, I don’t recall I’ve ever seen it for YT videos.
As a google user, what… what am I doing wrong? 😕
Using a browser instead of the YouTube app?
Unless you’re talking about Google links then yes. Amazon too, along with many other services. There’s a ClearURLs Firefox add-on to remove them automatically.
But it’s insidious with YouTube because people are much more likely to share YouTube videos on a public forum, and they just randomly started doing it one day.
Bingo. I’m using Chrome app on WinX desktop. (and yes, I’m a total idiot who’s taken too long to switch over to FF & linux)
Cool. Myself, I just manually clear that tracking rubbish in the URL field, but I get that such is way easier on desktop browser.
And I’m also using Gmail! :S
So just for gits & shiggles-- how badly would you say I might be hurt by my foolishness, at this rate?
@nebula224@mastodon.social
Btw, Nebula-- are you able to federate back and forth with Mastodon & Lemmy as a single stream? I’d love to see that.