4 ms·
I think you overestimate the scope of two things: 1) How vast the useful data gulf is between Google/FB and dozens of other entities. Maybe they have more data
by elefanten 9y ago
I think you overestimate the scope of two things:
1) How vast the useful data gulf is between Google/FB and dozens of other entities.
Maybe they have more data overall and had a decade head start, but at this point there's tons of other software, hardware and data stakeholders that can construct a pretty complete map of your life. And even before Google/FB there was the whole financials infrastructure: banks, credit agencies, etc.
2) How actionable that data advantage is for Google/FB.
Let's say you're right and they know a lot more than the next most knowledgeable entities. They're still constrained in how they can actually use that to manipulate your life to whatever nefarious ends. They're already under a lot of scrutiny, which is good, and no doubt will remain so. There are many obvious and overt steps they'd have to achieve (all of which would garner huge backlash) before consolidating some kind of truly hegemonic power. The leap from "has the best information" to your sci-fi scenarios is pretty significant for non-government entities with like-sized competitors to worry about in the private sector.
- lancesells 9y agoGoogle, Facebook & Amazon are all trying to own all aspects of your wallet and life. That data is extremely actionable as you can see by their market cap. These three companies are so pervasive and agressive in their reach into your life. And no one outside of those companies truly knows the amount of data being collected and it's borderline criminal in my opinion. I'm not for breaking them apart but I am for limiting their data collection and privacy invasion outside of their own products.