> The government wouldn't tell you that you couldn't do what you please with your data Technically true, but I think it is just semantics. Factually, it doesn'

> The government wouldn't tell you that you couldn't do what you please with your data Technically true, but I think it is just semantics. Factually, it doesn't feel like it really matters, and the grandparent comment seems to be aware of it. To elaborate: sure, technically the government won't tell me what I can do with my data, it will just offload that job to the companies by telling them what kind of data transactions I cannot engage in with them. The end result is, meaningfully, the same. Without those restrictions, I was able to willingly and knowingly trade my data in exchange for some service XYZ (in lieu of paying for it with money). With those restrictions in place, I cannot do that anymore. Whether I personally am not allowed to, or whether it is the companies that aren't allowed to engage in such exchange with me, is just a distinction without a meaningless difference. Personally, I disagree with these restrictions on the principle of not allowing me (as an individual) to willingly engage in such exchanges with businesses. However, I agree with you that such restrictions make infinitely more sense (and are way more enforceable) when implemented through placing them on companies rather than individuals.