Final answer:
Web cookies pose privacy risks by tracking personal information without consent, have been used in political manipulation, and can undermine trust in the digital environment, affecting society negatively.
Step-by-step explanation:
Web cookies can be detrimental to society in several ways. They can be used to track and store personal information without a user's explicit consent, leading to privacy concerns. For instance, the Pew Research Center reports an increase in concern over the extent of personal information available online.
These tracking methods have also been used for political purposes, as seen with the Russian interference and Cambridge Analytica scandals, where social media manipulation was alleged. Moreover, Edward Snowden's revelations regarding NSA and GCHQ showed that our own intelligence agencies may also compromise personal privacy. This invasion of privacy can undermine trust in the digital environment, hampering its potential for positive societal impact and leading to a chilling effect on the freedom of ideas.