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Opinions are my own. I'm not sure if we're being led to focus on a wrong problem. I hate intrusive Ads as much as everyone else. However, it's not only that "w

Opinions are my own. I'm not sure if we're being led to focus on a wrong problem. I hate intrusive Ads as much as everyone else. However, it's not only that "when you open your browser, you are exposed to risk". It's also: - Every time you use Windows (without turning off all the bad settings) - Every time you connect to a Cell tower (telcos openly sell your location data) - Every time you use your credit cards Now, I'm not saying those are OK, or to justify intrusive Ads. However, I see a magnitude difference in the "violation of my privacy" for the above cases. The media and certain communities keep focusing on Ads tech because it drives clicks. But then we let the Telcos, Insurance, and Credit Card companies establish a creeping normality on our privacy violation. We don't spend as much effort to stop Telco from directly selling our location data [1], but we have daily threads about companies indirectly use our location data for targeting Ads. Are we having our priority wrong? I couldn't shake the feeling that we're being led by a different narrative. The best situation of course is when we have good privacy laws and practices. However, focusing on the wrong priority like this is how we let other (much more severe) violators (Insurance, Telcos) get away with their creeping normality. [1] https://www.marketplace.org/2020/02/28/fcc-set-to-fine-big-telecom-companies-for-selling-location-data-is-200-million-enough/ https://www.marketplace.org/2020/02/28/fcc-set-to-fine-big-t...

aboringusername 5y ago
It doesn't matter anymore. The world is literally covered in tracking technologies from satellites orbiting the earth to radiowaves that are invisible to us but are monitoring our interactions within the world. By existing in 2021 (whether you use computers/tech or not) you need to accept your data will be collected, analyzed and sold. It will be leaked, combined/processed and abused in many different ways. I would be surprised if there was a single human on earth Facebook did not have a profile on at this point. I'd suspect the NSA can bring up the profiles of all 7 billion humans and recollect their entire lives from the digital/physical breadcrumbs they leave every day. Now that we can collect so much data, so rapidly (at the speed of light) and can analyze it in real time and store it forever it seems every digital application is focused on obtaining that valuable information and storing it to use in some way (usually, for profit). Even electric cars require apps and digital connectivity before they can be used/charged. Data is the new gold.
- krono 5y ago
  It's trivially easy to break into my house. No measures exist that I could realistically take to prevent it with 100% certainty. Any measures I stubbornly take anyway, are done out of spite, and to somewhat minimise the risk of my home being chosen over a neighbour's. In this data collection context, any efforts I take to hide parts of my identity and actions from these privacy rapists, I do out of obstinacy and vicious spite.
ocdtrekkie 5y ago
Telecoms are heavily regulated, and your link reinforces that: The FCC is able to directly fine telcos from selling our location data. Tech companies generally aren't subject to the same fines as telecoms are for doing... exactly the same things. And while Verizon, T-Mobile, etc. all have programs that opt-in to data collection and marketing practices, it's often impossible to opt out of tech companies' behaviors. Because telecoms are required to get your opt-in consent to use your data, generally they offer incentives to join rewards programs that have the additional marketing permissions as a requirement. For example, Verizon Up Rewards requires you enable Verizon Selects, where they can collect information about your web browsing activity and such: https://www.androidauthority.com/verizons-new-rewards-program-comes-big-catch-791408/ https://www.androidauthority.com/verizons-new-rewards-progra... Not something I'd want to participate in, but Verizon is paying it's users for that data in effect, something tech companies never do. > Opinions are my own. I find it impressive how well this line still singularly identifies the employer of anyone who uses it. :)

aboringusername 5y ago

It doesn't matter anymore. The world is literally covered in tracking technologies from satellites orbiting the earth to radiowaves that are invisible to us but are monitoring our interactions within the world. By existing in 2021 (whether you use computers/tech or not) you need to accept your data will be collected, analyzed and sold. It will be leaked, combined/processed and abused in many different ways. I would be surprised if there was a single human on earth Facebook did not have a profile on at this point. I'd suspect the NSA can bring up the profiles of all 7 billion humans and recollect their entire lives from the digital/physical breadcrumbs they leave every day. Now that we can collect so much data, so rapidly (at the speed of light) and can analyze it in real time and store it forever it seems every digital application is focused on obtaining that valuable information and storing it to use in some way (usually, for profit). Even electric cars require apps and digital connectivity before they can be used/charged. Data is the new gold.

krono 5y ago
It's trivially easy to break into my house. No measures exist that I could realistically take to prevent it with 100% certainty. Any measures I stubbornly take anyway, are done out of spite, and to somewhat minimise the risk of my home being chosen over a neighbour's. In this data collection context, any efforts I take to hide parts of my identity and actions from these privacy rapists, I do out of obstinacy and vicious spite.

ocdtrekkie 5y ago

Telecoms are heavily regulated, and your link reinforces that: The FCC is able to directly fine telcos from selling our location data. Tech companies generally aren't subject to the same fines as telecoms are for doing... exactly the same things. And while Verizon, T-Mobile, etc. all have programs that opt-in to data collection and marketing practices, it's often impossible to opt out of tech companies' behaviors. Because telecoms are required to get your opt-in consent to use your data, generally they offer incentives to join rewards programs that have the additional marketing permissions as a requirement. For example, Verizon Up Rewards requires you enable Verizon Selects, where they can collect information about your web browsing activity and such: https://www.androidauthority.com/verizons-new-rewards-program-comes-big-catch-791408/ https://www.androidauthority.com/verizons-new-rewards-progra... Not something I'd want to participate in, but Verizon is paying it's users for that data in effect, something tech companies never do. > Opinions are my own. I find it impressive how well this line still singularly identifies the employer of anyone who uses it. :)