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Long-overdue legislation and increased activism, including activism by the tech community, and ongoing informing of consumers about dangers of sharing their dat

Long-overdue legislation and increased activism, including activism by the tech community, and ongoing informing of consumers about dangers of sharing their data, are some of the possible mitigation steps. A simple first step: send an article on digital privacy, that you like, to your network and invite them to get back to you with questions they have. A possible start: EFF have an excellent privacy hub https://www.eff.org/issues/privacy https://www.eff.org/issues/privacy I have taken a case study with my teen about people loosing careers after facebook flame-wars; and being hauled in by police on face-recognition and geolocation data. We have a discussion at least once a month about the cyber-dystopia we find ourselves in. As I posted before, I'll just leave this here: 1. "It turns out that Facebook also buys data about your offline purchases. The next time you pay for a burrito with your credit card, Facebook will learn about this transaction and match this credit card number with the one you added in Messenger. In other words, Messenger is a great Trojan horse designed to learn everything about you." [1] https://techcrunch.com/2018/03/23/facebook-knows-literally-everything-about-you/ https://techcrunch.com/2018/03/23/facebook-knows-literally-e... From 2018! 2. "Google now knows when its users go to the store and buy stuff. Google has begun using billions of credit-card transaction records to prove that its online ads are prompting people to make purchases – even when they happen offline in brick-and-mortar stores [...] Privacy advocates said few people understand that their purchases are being analyzed in this way" [2] https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/05/23/google-now-knows-when-you-are-at-a-cash-register-and-how-much-you-are-spending/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/05/23... From 2017! Consumer data is the gold the consumer appears to be giving away, unwittingly or carelessly, regardless of the regime or geographic location.

fsflover 6y ago
> 1. "It turns out that Facebook also buys data about your offline purchases. Off-Facebook activity (https://www.facebook.com/off_facebook_activity/ https://www.facebook.com/off_facebook_activity/) 710 points by bigbaguette 11 months ago | un‑favorite | 382 comments https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22178917 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22178917
McDyver 6y ago
This is a good idea. I'm assuming you're in the US; in Europe, how to talk to people who are not "privacy-inclined", and who think GDPR was the silver bullet that automagically stopped all privacy abuse by each and every company? I feel I'm fighting a losing battle where everyone is Winston Smith, and [spoiler]loves Big Brother[/spoiler]
- NotPavlovsDog 6y ago
  I think it depends on who you are talking to... you know them better than me. Sometimes leaving out the big concerns and bringing up the concept of the "digital trace" may be a good start, bringing up relevant cases. Even if they think and say "the idiots deserved it, I have nothing to hide", the seed still gets planted. A neighbor I have that supported surveillance and likes to share his hunting images was surprised when I showed him that his images could be traced back to his home address, which he absolutely did not want. He started asking for help with digital privacy issues after that and has even contacted his political representative about his concerns. He has shared this new-gained knowledge in his circuit, and so it spreads...
grep_name 6y ago
You're doing a great thing for your teen. Have you ever considered hosting a cryptoparty[1]? I just learned about these recently and found out the makerspace in my city used to do one every third thursday, but stopped sometime a few years ago. I've been thinking about getting in touch with whoever used to host it to see about starting it up again [1] https://www.cryptoparty.in/organize/howto https://www.cryptoparty.in/organize/howto
- trident5000 6y ago
  Pretty clear at this point that the US govt is willing to do nothing to claw back big tech. Its going to be things like cryptocurrency, encrypted and decentralized messengers and social networks, etc, that pave the way to getting freedom back. Being loud about using these things especially with younger folks is going to be crucial.
  - grep_name 6y ago
    That's what cryptoparties are for though, it's kind of like a workshop for technical and non-technical people to learn how to use those tools with hands-on examples
    - trident5000 6y ago
      Excellent
- NotPavlovsDog 6y ago
  At the current state of events, in-life meetings are low on my priority list, but this would be fun to do at some point in the future. I have not seen that resource before, thank you for sharing, it appears to be a great starting point!
badjeans 6y ago
> and ongoing informing of consumers about dangers of sharing their data I don't get it. What's the danger?
- NotPavlovsDog 6y ago
  consider starting with the EFF privacy resource linked in my top comment.
higerordermap 6y ago
Off topic, but I thought I should share this joke someone sent me: CALLER: Is this Pizza Delight? GOOGLE: No sir, it's Google Pizza. CALLER: I must have dialed a wrong number. Sorry. GOOGLE: No sir, Google bought over Pizza Delight last month. CALLER: OK. I would like to order a pizza. GOOGLE: Do you want your usual, Sir? CALLER: My usual. Do you know me? GOOGLE: According to your caller ID data sheet, the last ten times you called, you have ordered an extra-large pizza with three cheeses, sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms and meat-balls on a thick crust. CALLER: OK! That's what I want ... GOOGLE: May I suggest that this time you order a vegan Pizza with ricotta, arugula, sun-dried tomatoes and olives on a whole wheat gluten-free thin crust? CALLER: Why a Vegan Pizza? I detest vegetables. GOOGLE: Your Cholesterol levels are not good, Sir. CALLER: How the hell do you know? GOOGLE: Well Sir, we cross-referenced your Mobile phone number with your medical records. We have with us, the result of your blood tests for the last seven years. CALLER: Okay, but I do not want your rotten vegetable pizza! I already take medication regularly, for my cholesterol. GOOGLE: Excuse me sir, but you have not taken your medication regularly. According to our database, you purchased one box of 30 cholesterol tablets only once in the recent past, at Drug RX Network, 4 months ago. CALLER: I bought more medication from another drugstore. GOOGLE: That doesn't show on your credit card statement, Sir. CALLER: I paid in cash. GOOGLE: But you did not withdraw enough cash, according to your bank statements. CALLER: I have other sources of cash. GOOGLE: That doesn't show in your last Tax Return, unless you bought the Tablets using an undeclared income source, which is against the law. CALLER: WHAT THE HELL!! GOOGLE: I'm sorry, sir, we use such information, only with the sole intention of helping you. CALLER: Enough already !! I'm sick and tired of Google, Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and all the others. I'm going to a remote island without any Internet, Netflix, Cable TV, where there is no Cell phone service and no Big Brother to watch me or spy on me. GOOGLE: I understand Sir, but you need to renew your passport first. It expired six weeks ago...
- Abhinav2000 6y ago
  Great post, laughed throughout and it also is scarily not far from the truth
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]

fsflover 6y ago

> 1. "It turns out that Facebook also buys data about your offline purchases. Off-Facebook activity (https://www.facebook.com/off_facebook_activity/ https://www.facebook.com/off_facebook_activity/) 710 points by bigbaguette 11 months ago | un‑favorite | 382 comments https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22178917 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22178917

McDyver 6y ago

This is a good idea. I'm assuming you're in the US; in Europe, how to talk to people who are not "privacy-inclined", and who think GDPR was the silver bullet that automagically stopped all privacy abuse by each and every company? I feel I'm fighting a losing battle where everyone is Winston Smith, and [spoiler]loves Big Brother[/spoiler]

NotPavlovsDog 6y ago
I think it depends on who you are talking to... you know them better than me. Sometimes leaving out the big concerns and bringing up the concept of the "digital trace" may be a good start, bringing up relevant cases. Even if they think and say "the idiots deserved it, I have nothing to hide", the seed still gets planted. A neighbor I have that supported surveillance and likes to share his hunting images was surprised when I showed him that his images could be traced back to his home address, which he absolutely did not want. He started asking for help with digital privacy issues after that and has even contacted his political representative about his concerns. He has shared this new-gained knowledge in his circuit, and so it spreads...

grep_name 6y ago

You're doing a great thing for your teen. Have you ever considered hosting a cryptoparty[1]? I just learned about these recently and found out the makerspace in my city used to do one every third thursday, but stopped sometime a few years ago. I've been thinking about getting in touch with whoever used to host it to see about starting it up again [1] https://www.cryptoparty.in/organize/howto https://www.cryptoparty.in/organize/howto

trident5000 6y ago
Pretty clear at this point that the US govt is willing to do nothing to claw back big tech. Its going to be things like cryptocurrency, encrypted and decentralized messengers and social networks, etc, that pave the way to getting freedom back. Being loud about using these things especially with younger folks is going to be crucial.
- grep_name 6y ago
  That's what cryptoparties are for though, it's kind of like a workshop for technical and non-technical people to learn how to use those tools with hands-on examples
  - trident5000 6y ago
    Excellent
NotPavlovsDog 6y ago
At the current state of events, in-life meetings are low on my priority list, but this would be fun to do at some point in the future. I have not seen that resource before, thank you for sharing, it appears to be a great starting point!

badjeans 6y ago

> and ongoing informing of consumers about dangers of sharing their data I don't get it. What's the danger?

NotPavlovsDog 6y ago
consider starting with the EFF privacy resource linked in my top comment.

higerordermap 6y ago

Off topic, but I thought I should share this joke someone sent me: CALLER: Is this Pizza Delight? GOOGLE: No sir, it's Google Pizza. CALLER: I must have dialed a wrong number. Sorry. GOOGLE: No sir, Google bought over Pizza Delight last month. CALLER: OK. I would like to order a pizza. GOOGLE: Do you want your usual, Sir? CALLER: My usual. Do you know me? GOOGLE: According to your caller ID data sheet, the last ten times you called, you have ordered an extra-large pizza with three cheeses, sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms and meat-balls on a thick crust. CALLER: OK! That's what I want ... GOOGLE: May I suggest that this time you order a vegan Pizza with ricotta, arugula, sun-dried tomatoes and olives on a whole wheat gluten-free thin crust? CALLER: Why a Vegan Pizza? I detest vegetables. GOOGLE: Your Cholesterol levels are not good, Sir. CALLER: How the hell do you know? GOOGLE: Well Sir, we cross-referenced your Mobile phone number with your medical records. We have with us, the result of your blood tests for the last seven years. CALLER: Okay, but I do not want your rotten vegetable pizza! I already take medication regularly, for my cholesterol. GOOGLE: Excuse me sir, but you have not taken your medication regularly. According to our database, you purchased one box of 30 cholesterol tablets only once in the recent past, at Drug RX Network, 4 months ago. CALLER: I bought more medication from another drugstore. GOOGLE: That doesn't show on your credit card statement, Sir. CALLER: I paid in cash. GOOGLE: But you did not withdraw enough cash, according to your bank statements. CALLER: I have other sources of cash. GOOGLE: That doesn't show in your last Tax Return, unless you bought the Tablets using an undeclared income source, which is against the law. CALLER: WHAT THE HELL!! GOOGLE: I'm sorry, sir, we use such information, only with the sole intention of helping you. CALLER: Enough already !! I'm sick and tired of Google, Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and all the others. I'm going to a remote island without any Internet, Netflix, Cable TV, where there is no Cell phone service and no Big Brother to watch me or spy on me. GOOGLE: I understand Sir, but you need to renew your passport first. It expired six weeks ago...

Abhinav2000 6y ago
Great post, laughed throughout and it also is scarily not far from the truth
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]