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Amazon doesn't have a million photos of me, hourly location data, and lots of other things freely provided by my "friend" network. I'm glad there are no friend

Amazon doesn't have a million photos of me, hourly location data, and lots of other things freely provided by my "friend" network. I'm glad there are no friends on Amazon.

weinzierl 9y ago
> Amazon doesn't have a million photos of me, Yes, but what good are they to make you buy stuff or otherwise spend money? > hourly location data, Location data is a commodity nowadays, if Amazon want's your locations data, it can have it. > and lots of other things freely Your messages, which are probably much more useful than your photos and your location, but what else? My point is that Amazon's data is much more valuable, but I'm neither in advertising nor data brokerage so I might as well be wrong.
- user404d 9y ago
  You're assuming that targeting people's finances is the best way to leverage the data collected. In Facebook's case, they are using it to literally assert influence over masses of people. When other groups get access to that same data, then they too can use that data to assert influence because that's literally what the platform has been developed into (not implying this was Facebook's intent all along). I think these groups targeting your pocket book may have the most immediate effect on your person -- however -- I don't think it's the scariest or most malicious outcome.
  - weinzierl 9y ago
    That's a good point, actually.
- Xeoncross 9y ago
  > what good are they to make you buy stuff Climate, activities, fashion, lifestyle, branding, etc... can all be determined from photos. Computers are getting better at this, just look at Amazon's fashion camera, the "Echo Look" that recommends clothing.
jessaustin 9y ago
I'm glad there are no friends on Amazon. Company culture determines everything!
bduerst 9y ago
Do you use a credit card? Amazon most likely has your transaction history, even for B&M purchases, if you have your credit card on your account.
- tcoff91 9y ago
  How do they get transaction history even for transactions involving non-Amazon-owned companies?
  - rock_hard 9y ago
    Amazon Creditcard?
    - bduerst 9y ago
      I'm not sure about that but Amazon has my AMEX purchase history. I've been retargeted for single item purchases that are impossible to know otherwise.
  - reaperducer 9y ago
    The stores and credit card processors sell the information to Amazon, Google, etc... There was an article in Forbes or Bloomberg or something recently that stated that Google now gets something like 80% of all credit card transaction data, online or offline.
    - alexanderdmitri 9y ago
      Can you source this?
      - fourthark 9y ago
        https://www.technologyreview.com/s/607938/google-now-tracks-your-credit-card-purchases-and-connects-them-to-its-online-profile-of-you/ https://www.technologyreview.com/s/607938/google-now-tracks-...
bradyd 9y ago
Actually, there are friends on Amazon. You can associate friends and family Wish Lists (if they are public) with your account. Amazon also has a photo hosting service, so they could have photos of you if you use it.
ReverseCold 9y ago
> Amazon doesn't have a million photos of me Prime Photos has unlimited storage an uploads every single picture you take by default. As such, a lot of people use it. > hourly location data The Amazon app requests location data and it probably checks when you use the app.

Amazon doesn't have a million photos of me, hourly location data, and lots of other things freely provided by my "friend" network. I'm glad there are no friends on Amazon.

weinzierl 9y ago

> Amazon doesn't have a million photos of me, Yes, but what good are they to make you buy stuff or otherwise spend money? > hourly location data, Location data is a commodity nowadays, if Amazon want's your locations data, it can have it. > and lots of other things freely Your messages, which are probably much more useful than your photos and your location, but what else? My point is that Amazon's data is much more valuable, but I'm neither in advertising nor data brokerage so I might as well be wrong.

user404d 9y ago
You're assuming that targeting people's finances is the best way to leverage the data collected. In Facebook's case, they are using it to literally assert influence over masses of people. When other groups get access to that same data, then they too can use that data to assert influence because that's literally what the platform has been developed into (not implying this was Facebook's intent all along). I think these groups targeting your pocket book may have the most immediate effect on your person -- however -- I don't think it's the scariest or most malicious outcome.
- weinzierl 9y ago
  That's a good point, actually.
Xeoncross 9y ago
> what good are they to make you buy stuff Climate, activities, fashion, lifestyle, branding, etc... can all be determined from photos. Computers are getting better at this, just look at Amazon's fashion camera, the "Echo Look" that recommends clothing.

jessaustin 9y ago

I'm glad there are no friends on Amazon. Company culture determines everything!

bduerst 9y ago

Do you use a credit card? Amazon most likely has your transaction history, even for B&M purchases, if you have your credit card on your account.

tcoff91 9y ago
How do they get transaction history even for transactions involving non-Amazon-owned companies?
- rock_hard 9y ago
  Amazon Creditcard?
  - bduerst 9y ago
    I'm not sure about that but Amazon has my AMEX purchase history. I've been retargeted for single item purchases that are impossible to know otherwise.
- reaperducer 9y ago
  The stores and credit card processors sell the information to Amazon, Google, etc... There was an article in Forbes or Bloomberg or something recently that stated that Google now gets something like 80% of all credit card transaction data, online or offline.
  - alexanderdmitri 9y ago
    Can you source this?
    - fourthark 9y ago
      https://www.technologyreview.com/s/607938/google-now-tracks-your-credit-card-purchases-and-connects-them-to-its-online-profile-of-you/ https://www.technologyreview.com/s/607938/google-now-tracks-...

bradyd 9y ago

Actually, there are friends on Amazon. You can associate friends and family Wish Lists (if they are public) with your account. Amazon also has a photo hosting service, so they could have photos of you if you use it.

ReverseCold 9y ago

> Amazon doesn't have a million photos of me Prime Photos has unlimited storage an uploads every single picture you take by default. As such, a lot of people use it. > hourly location data The Amazon app requests location data and it probably checks when you use the app.