I would argue that Facebook is not an endpoint. It is an intermediate - nobody interacts with the Facebook but through the Facebook.

Of course, it is an first level intermediate, and ISP are second level, but still an intermediate.

I'd argue on the contrary, that both Facebook and Google via their ad networks and analytics tools embedded on websites collect an incredible amount of information that was not explicitly or voluntarily permitted by the user.

I don't necessarily disagree, but even then they can only do that if the user is visiting a FB or Google property, or a property that has entered into a relationship with them.

A service provider, on the other hand, is in a position that has absolutely no legitimate claim on the contents of communications between third parties.

Postal services are not expected to rifle through the contents of their customer's packages. Phone companies are not expected to record people's phone calls (or even reveal who's calling who). There is no reason why data communication providers should be allowed to do these things.

In principle nor ISP, nor Facebook is different from postal service. Their only function is to be an intermediate between users.

I would argue that as postal services can not force you to give up you a privacy with the contract terms (you are entering into a contract by sending a mail), so should not Facebok or ISP.

I don't disagree that ISP data collection is bad. But given that Facebook and Google can profile users who don't even use Facebook or Google through the majority of websites out there, I don't think we can pretend that this is a problem with ISPs but not a problem with web companies.

We should strongly push for real legislation that bars these companies from collecting browsing metadata from users, regardless of what service they're providing.

Yes, this is what I meant. I feel like most people's daily internet use is highly surveilled already. I can see the ISPs thinking "FB and Google can only get 80%, but we can see it all, if only we can get them to change the rules".