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Thanks, that was an interesting read! I wonder if the author's perspective has changed with regards to freedom to compute. Social Media is often used as an ex

Thanks, that was an interesting read! I wonder if the author's perspective has changed with regards to freedom to compute. Social Media is often used as an example of privacy invasion though I've failed to see why concerns over Facebook handling your private data is worrying when they don't have a product you need to have. Email on the other hand, is pretty much a necessity today so privacy concerns are vital there imo. Of course you can host your own server whereas you can't host your own Facebook.

macintux 4y ago
> I've failed to see why concerns over Facebook handling your private data is worrying when they don't have a product you need to have. I have at least two concerns. 1) Viscerally, it would be intensely creepy if someone started following me everywhere. Why would I want a company doing the same? 2) We are in an era of diminishing freedoms, and it's impossible to prove that data Facebook has on us can't be turned against us in the court system in the future. Women's menstrual cycles are being weaponized, for Pete's sake.
- iamerroragent 4y ago
  You're completely correct. What I wanted to articulate though was that Facebook isn't delivering an essential service. The consumer still has a choice not to use it. So if it as a company is known to abuse the information you give it then don't do business with that company. Email, phone, and even your personal address you don't have a lot choice around not using. And that stuff also isn't really protected without encryption. (excluding mail by postal service, mostly). Basically if you don't want communication to be intercepted and potentially used against you then do it in person inside of faraday cage. I'm mostly joking here.
  - lovemenot 4y ago
    I have never had a Facebook account. I believe Meta would have a shadow-account for me, based on browser fingerprint, photos tagged by their users and such. At some point, one's own choices become moot.

macintux 4y ago

> I've failed to see why concerns over Facebook handling your private data is worrying when they don't have a product you need to have. I have at least two concerns. 1) Viscerally, it would be intensely creepy if someone started following me everywhere. Why would I want a company doing the same? 2) We are in an era of diminishing freedoms, and it's impossible to prove that data Facebook has on us can't be turned against us in the court system in the future. Women's menstrual cycles are being weaponized, for Pete's sake.

iamerroragent 4y ago
You're completely correct. What I wanted to articulate though was that Facebook isn't delivering an essential service. The consumer still has a choice not to use it. So if it as a company is known to abuse the information you give it then don't do business with that company. Email, phone, and even your personal address you don't have a lot choice around not using. And that stuff also isn't really protected without encryption. (excluding mail by postal service, mostly). Basically if you don't want communication to be intercepted and potentially used against you then do it in person inside of faraday cage. I'm mostly joking here.
- lovemenot 4y ago
  I have never had a Facebook account. I believe Meta would have a shadow-account for me, based on browser fingerprint, photos tagged by their users and such. At some point, one's own choices become moot.