Regardless of how this ends up working or being decided, I'm very happy to see such discussion occurring. The large scale collection of data on users has benefi

Regardless of how this ends up working or being decided, I'm very happy to see such discussion occurring. The large scale collection of data on users has benefits both nominally 'good' and 'evil' - from app UX to advertising profits. But equally interesting are the potential drawbacks involving privacy concerns, and lack of user awareness. It is this last point that I find best remedied by articles like this appearing in widely available media publications. When a discussion is on HN I might learn a lot and reflect upon my choices. When the nytimes and German privacy commissioner start a conversation, I consider that even more valuable. Hopefully a balanced outcome will occur, but I don't see that as important as the inevitable education that comes with such public debate.