>The idea that this data collection is not something that can or should be regulated is perverse and thankfully the general public is coming around to this view

>The idea that this data collection is not something that can or should be regulated is perverse and thankfully the general public is coming around to this viewpoint. A while ago I would have agreed, but as I've watched the progress of data legislation, I've come under the impression that it's flawed in at least two significant ways: 1. Companies lobby for laws that favor them. Sooner or later, they win. And then they spend those winnings to ensure they keep winning (some numbers on the top political contributions from electronics/communications companies: https://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.php?ind=B https://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.php?ind=B). 2. Enforcement is never going to result in jail time. It's going to appear as fines, serving as a mere cost of doing business which results in further entrenching existing companies against newcomers who can't afford the risks. People right now are excited about greater legislation because they think it will divert us from the cyberpunk dystopia of megacorps owning the world. But the trend I'm picking up from the current legal battles is that they're actually hastening it by pushing for legislation which those same companies will get to shape the details of. Thus, the solution I see is not greater legislation (which also implies greater centralization, thus more winner-takes-all for companies and governments), but greater decentralization and personal ownership. Legislation sounds good now, but in the long run it's a trap.