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> What should really scare you is the vast amount of privacy violations, data collection and tracking that is happening around the web. Even if it would scare
by tjansen 5y ago
> What should really scare you is the vast amount of privacy violations, data collection and tracking that is happening around the web.
Even if it would scare me (it really doesn't), as an EU citizen I would care about surveillance by the EU, not by the US.
> Imagine someone following you everywhere in the real world, even getting into your apartment and noting down everything you do.
To do what? Collect a lot of useless information? I would bother me if someone I know does it. I don't care if some abstract entity in a different country thousands of miles away does it.
- fsflover 5y ago> To do what? Collect a lot of useless information? To force you into buying something you don't need, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surveillance_capitalism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surveillance_capitalism. Also, to obtain your commercial secrets: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_surveillance#Purposes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_surveillance#Purposes.
- kmlx 5y ago> To force you into buying something you don't need No one can force you to do anything.
- fsflover 5y agoIf it was true, the surveillance capitalism would not exist. You can call this "trick you into buying useless staff" if you wish. See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Targeted_advertising#Consumers_2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Targeted_advertising#Consumers....
- nickpp 5y agoPeople have been buying useless crap since the begging of time. It didn't start with targeted advertising.
- fsflover 5y agoAre you implying that tricking people into buying more useless staff is fine?
- nickpp 5y agoWho are you to decide for other people what they find useless or not? And are you implying people have no free will to decide what to buy and they need others to "trick" them or to prevent them from buying? Do you consider yourself above other people and some sort of arbiter for their decisions?
- fsflover 5y agoPeople should have the freedom to not be manipulated.
- nickpp 5y agoThen you should stop writing right now because to communicate is to manipulate. People are manipulating machines. Sometimes to sell useless crap, other times (just as useless) ideas and ideologies. It comes with being a human and interacting with other humans. People should have the freedom to choose who they listen to though, instead of others deciding for them.
- fsflover 5y agoI'm talking about dedicated departments in large companies that try to steer people into more purchases for profit. This is unethical unless people gave their consent.
- nickpp 5y agoNow you are simply describing advertising. I do not find it unethical, maybe unpleasant at most. It is the engine of commerce and driving progress. It is a sign of abundance of choice. And let's not forget a company still has to create a compelling product - no ads can override my free will.
- ohgodplsno 5y agoThat is surely why most large companies have entire teams human behavior psychologists, because they can't force you to do anything. Definitely not to figure out how to get something drilled deep in your brain so that the next time you see it, you're inching ever closer to buying it. In fact, that's why Facebook ran secret psychological experiments on unwilling participants by modifying their timeline! Because they can't force you to do anything.
- fauigerzigerk 5y agoWhat I'm concerned about is that companies collecting data on me may not be able to keep it safe (e.g Equifax). I could become a victim of identity theft, fraud, extortion, blackmail, corrupt officials, litigious opponents or authoritarian regimes.
- tjansen 5y agoI understand that concern, but GDPR only makes a small difference here.
- fsflover 5y agoIt allows to see which data they have on you and demand it's deletion in many cases.
- tjansen 5y agoYes, but how often do people do this? How many people can even read the JSON files you get from most companies?
- piaste 5y agoSmall? The single best way a company can reassure me that they won't leak my data is by not having it in the first place.
- blitzar 5y agoAhh the classic I have nothing to hide defence. Old as time itself.
- fsflover 5y agohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothing_to_hide_argument https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothing_to_hide_argument
- tjansen 5y agoYes, but why can't I decide for myself whether I have something to hide or not? I don't have a problem with people who want privacy. I can also imagine situations in which I would want privacy. But what if I don't?
- blitzar 5y agoIf you dont want privacy, you are 100% free to make that choice. However, the default should be that things are private unless that privilege is waived.
- Nextgrid 5y agoThe GDPR's objective is exactly to give you that choice.
- tjansen 5y agoNo, as a site is not allowed to block users who do not agree to tracking cookies. The result is that many sites will rather geoblock all users than implement GDPR.
- Nextgrid 5y agoThat's doesn't contradict my point that the GDPR's goal is to give users a choice. In fact, if websites can block users then it's not really a choice isn't it?
- 5y ago