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There should be scare quotes around Privacy Advocacy Groups. All of the listed think tanks are for sale. EPIC, an actual privacy advocacy group, is not. https

There should be scare quotes around Privacy Advocacy Groups. All of the listed think tanks are for sale. EPIC, an actual privacy advocacy group, is not. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_Privacy_Information_Center https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_Privacy_Information...

SpicyLemonZest 7y ago
How do you know EPIC isn’t for sale? They don’t disclose who their donors are.
- Despegar 7y ago
  Because I'm aware of their history and the positions they've taken on privacy issues. They've always been the actual pro-privacy group, unlike the others which represent tech industry interests. The EFF, popular with many tech workers, also falls into the latter group. They've started to pivot post all the privacy scandals of the past few years, but in general they've taken positions that align with the tech industry. There's a reason why they've been preoccupied with government surveillance but have been silent (until recently) about corporate surveillance.
  - SpicyLemonZest 7y ago
    How do you know EPIC isn’t representing the interests of its own donors? I don’t think you’re applying a consistent standard here.
    - Despegar 7y ago
      I was mainly attacking those think tanks for providing air cover for tech industry interests. I'm sure there are actual examples of tech companies also donating to EPIC, as well as employees of tech companies.
- huntleydavis 7y ago
  The irony
- rhizome 7y ago
  What do you mean, "who their donors are?" What is missing from their CharityNavigator? https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=8671 https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summar... They're a 501(c)3, they take donations off the front page of their website. Sure, you might be curious who is donating? Or if there are any donations over a certain amount? I don't see any of that for The March of Dimes, either, do we question whether they are "for sale?"
  - SpicyLemonZest 7y ago
    I agree that "for sale" isn't a fair descriptor, of the March of Dimes or EPIC or the EFF. That was mostly my point. I think it's reasonable to ask some number of questions about the March of Dimes. It's surprising, at least a little bit, that eradicating polio didn't reduce the amount of charitable work a polio charity had to do.

SpicyLemonZest 7y ago

How do you know EPIC isn’t for sale? They don’t disclose who their donors are.

Despegar 7y ago
Because I'm aware of their history and the positions they've taken on privacy issues. They've always been the actual pro-privacy group, unlike the others which represent tech industry interests. The EFF, popular with many tech workers, also falls into the latter group. They've started to pivot post all the privacy scandals of the past few years, but in general they've taken positions that align with the tech industry. There's a reason why they've been preoccupied with government surveillance but have been silent (until recently) about corporate surveillance.
- SpicyLemonZest 7y ago
  How do you know EPIC isn’t representing the interests of its own donors? I don’t think you’re applying a consistent standard here.
  - Despegar 7y ago
    I was mainly attacking those think tanks for providing air cover for tech industry interests. I'm sure there are actual examples of tech companies also donating to EPIC, as well as employees of tech companies.
huntleydavis 7y ago
The irony
rhizome 7y ago
What do you mean, "who their donors are?" What is missing from their CharityNavigator? https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=8671 https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summar... They're a 501(c)3, they take donations off the front page of their website. Sure, you might be curious who is donating? Or if there are any donations over a certain amount? I don't see any of that for The March of Dimes, either, do we question whether they are "for sale?"
- SpicyLemonZest 7y ago
  I agree that "for sale" isn't a fair descriptor, of the March of Dimes or EPIC or the EFF. That was mostly my point. I think it's reasonable to ask some number of questions about the March of Dimes. It's surprising, at least a little bit, that eradicating polio didn't reduce the amount of charitable work a polio charity had to do.