If you know me, you might be aware I'm a bit of a privacy nut. I don't like being tracked online and go to great lengths to avoid it.
Obviously, one of the biggest online trackers is Google. Along with their suite of privacy invading tools (Google Analytics, Doubleclick ads, etc), their tight integration with YouTube means you're tracked pretty much all over the web.
It's even worse for users of Google products like Gmail. Have you ever noticed that when you log into Gmail, you're also automatically logged into YouTube the next time you visit that site?
Care about privacy and tired of being tracked by the big tech companies? Consider using Firefox and Multi-account containers.
This video explains how that happens:
NOTE: For paid G Suites accounts (or grandfathered free ones), Google does not automatically log you into YouTube. This is yet another reason to pay for the services you use. Otherwise, you are the product - which is sold to advertisers.
NOTE: According to @gregmarine, his paid G suite account did log him into YouTube as well. Same thing happens to @javebratt. YMMV!
Now, at first, that might seem pretty convenient. Perhaps you want to comment on a video or up vote it. However, it's also a great way for them to track every video you watch.
It even helps them spy on everything you do across the web. Have you visited a web site that has a YouTube video embedded on it? Guess what? Google knows you were on that website. They know because when you logged into Gmail, you got logged onto YouTube without even knowing it. Now, Google knows all the websites you visit that you didn't really intend for them to know.
I find this very deceptive at best and believe it should be prevented. Yes, YouTube is a subsidiary of Google. However, when I log into my bank, I'm not auto-logged into their mortgage affiliates. When I log into my city utilities site, I'm not auto-logged into the library.
I don't think the average person is aware this is happening or that it's being used to track them online.
Please help spread the word so we can force Google/YouTube to stop this practice.
Photo Credit: https://unsplash.com/@etiennegirardet
