Hulu is just the latest in a long line of vendors to be caught respawning previously deleted cookies.

Check out the full article on Media Post.

But what does that actually mean? Essentially, companies like Hulu use cookies (code stored on your browser) to track your browsing behavior–in the hopes of eventually displaying advertising that fit your behavioral patterns. No harm, no foul–though privacy adovcates would strongly disagree.

However, according to Wired “when a user visited Hulu.com, they would get a ‘third-party’ cookie set by KISSmetrics with a tracking ID number. KISSmetrics would pass that number to Hulu, allowing Hulu to use it. Then if a user visited another site that was using KISSmetrics, that site’s cookie would get the exact same number as well.” So even if the user were to delete a cookie after visiting Hulu, Hulu would be able to recreate the cookie and continue to track the users.

Hulu has since cut ties with KISSmetrics since the story broke and was very quick to update their privacy policy.

With government regulation looking increasingly plausible, and privacy advocates frothing at the mouth…is it time to finally stop talking about self regulation (Ad Choices is just annoying) and start talking about track-to-play (you can consumer our content for free if you let us track you)? What do you think?

In the final few days of 2010 and over the final few months to close the year, everyone is talking about privacy.  From “Do Not Follow” lists to an online consumers “Bill of Rights”, there will be debate after debate around online marketing and consumer privacy in 2011. Even Obama joined the conversation making headlines just a week ago.  We certainly have our point of view – stay tuned.  Hot in the spotlight for the moment is Apple. With consumers clicking accept with blind ambition to the Ts & Cs for the App Store and with Apple being quite coy in the wording found as new iPhone and iPad users sync their shiny new holiday gift for the first time, sharing consumer actions with app makers and using this info within their iAd technology brings this well respected company under fire.

Right now the class action being organized doesn’t add up to much but time will tell on how the case builds.  It’ll be interesting to see what action Apple takes to reverse the negative PR coming their way.  2011 will start off with plenty of controversy.  Enjoy the final few days of 2010. We’ll keep a close eye on the headlines and let you know if anything breaks while you pop the champagne.  See you in 2011.