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Companies that build ethically-challenged products that infringe on privacy, etc. are really, REALLY good at spinning their mission into some “world-changing” s

Companies that build ethically-challenged products that infringe on privacy, etc. are really, REALLY good at spinning their mission into some “world-changing” spiel that completely absolves them of responsibility (e.g: Facebook). And I’ve met so many people in the industry who are out to make their money first before they start basing decisions on the ethics of tech. On one hand, it’s good to see ex FB employees speaking out on privacy issues, but it’s also somewhat hollow because many of them made millions on the very technology they’re now speaking out against. Honestly, how much weight does Sean Parker’s criticism of FB really carry? He’s not organizing a movement against FB, he’s doing one interview and then going back to his jet-setting lifestyle. Ethics will never be a first-class citizen in the minds of all technologists as long as the money worship continues.

iudqnolq 7y ago
> are really, REALLY good at spinning their mission into some “world-changing” spiel that completely absolves them of responsibility (e.g: Facebook). Really? I don't think many people outside the valley believed that about FB ever, and I don't think many people outside FB believe that now. FB doesn't seem all that good at spin in general... [1] [2] [3] [1]: How Facebook’s crisis PR firm triggered a PR crisis https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/17/18099065/facebook-definers-nyt-pr-crisis https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/17/18099065/facebook-define... [2]: Facebook's PR Crisis Is a Mess of Its Own Making https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2018-03-21/facebook-s-public-relations-crisis-is-a-mess-of-its-own-making https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2018-03-21/facebo... [3]: What Did Zuckerberg Know? Lessons from Facebook’s Latest Scandal https://www.prnewsonline.com/lessons-Facebook-data-crisis https://www.prnewsonline.com/lessons-Facebook-data-crisis
- Maximus9000 7y ago
  > I don't think many people outside the valley believed that about FB ever The main stream media had some very glowing reviews of facebook during the 'arab spring'. Glowing articles were written about how these wonderful social media platforms help organize people to start revolutions like the arab spring.
thiagomgd 7y ago
It's like, if they are sorry about/regret doing those privacy invasions, are they also going to donate some of the money they made to people implementing privacy solutions or something else? Probably no, right? Easy to talk, but hard to deny all that money

iudqnolq 7y ago

> are really, REALLY good at spinning their mission into some “world-changing” spiel that completely absolves them of responsibility (e.g: Facebook). Really? I don't think many people outside the valley believed that about FB ever, and I don't think many people outside FB believe that now. FB doesn't seem all that good at spin in general... [1] [2] [3] [1]: How Facebook’s crisis PR firm triggered a PR crisis https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/17/18099065/facebook-definers-nyt-pr-crisis https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/17/18099065/facebook-define... [2]: Facebook's PR Crisis Is a Mess of Its Own Making https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2018-03-21/facebook-s-public-relations-crisis-is-a-mess-of-its-own-making https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2018-03-21/facebo... [3]: What Did Zuckerberg Know? Lessons from Facebook’s Latest Scandal https://www.prnewsonline.com/lessons-Facebook-data-crisis https://www.prnewsonline.com/lessons-Facebook-data-crisis

Maximus9000 7y ago
> I don't think many people outside the valley believed that about FB ever The main stream media had some very glowing reviews of facebook during the 'arab spring'. Glowing articles were written about how these wonderful social media platforms help organize people to start revolutions like the arab spring.

thiagomgd 7y ago

It's like, if they are sorry about/regret doing those privacy invasions, are they also going to donate some of the money they made to people implementing privacy solutions or something else? Probably no, right? Easy to talk, but hard to deny all that money