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> from a practical perspective it is kinda true Folks don't realize all the things they are hiding — and can be extraordinarily important to hide — even when t

> from a practical perspective it is kinda true Folks don't realize all the things they are hiding — and can be extraordinarily important to hide — even when they're actively hiding them! My personal favorite anecdote here is comes from a debate with a friend who was staunchly asserting that she had nothing to hide. I just blindly suggested — hypothetically — that one example would be if she were in early stages of pregnancy. Seven months later, guess what she was hiding during the argument.

slg 3y ago
This is part of what I'm talking about. Hiding something from an individual you know is very different from hiding something from a faceless corporation. There are obvious practical implications from someone you know finding out that you are pregnant before you want them to know. Why does it matter whether your car manufacturer knows if you are pregnant?
- kevincox 3y ago
  The problem is that the more people know a secret the less likely it is to stay secret. I don't want the people I know to be able to download a profile about my from their local data broker. Even if my car company doesn't sell my data (which they probably will) one of the companies that do know it will eventually leak it and it will be slurped up and be made available to people that I don't want it available to.
  - slg 3y ago
    Now you are arguing separate issues. There are three concerns here: data collection, data brokering, and data security. Your complaint is about the latter two. Addressing the data collection would certainly address the other two, but if those are the concerns why shouldn't we make laws focusing on them rather than the collection?
- throwworhtthrow 3y ago
  In the case of Target, they might mail your pregnant teenage daughter a flier for newborn items before she's told you the news. https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/magazine/shopping-habits.html https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/magazine/shopping-habits....
- mbauman 3y ago
  Unfortunately it can also matter if your boss knows. Or the company you’re interviewing with. It shouldn’t matter (and would be illegal if it could be proven), but it matters.

slg 3y ago

This is part of what I'm talking about. Hiding something from an individual you know is very different from hiding something from a faceless corporation. There are obvious practical implications from someone you know finding out that you are pregnant before you want them to know. Why does it matter whether your car manufacturer knows if you are pregnant?

kevincox 3y ago
The problem is that the more people know a secret the less likely it is to stay secret. I don't want the people I know to be able to download a profile about my from their local data broker. Even if my car company doesn't sell my data (which they probably will) one of the companies that do know it will eventually leak it and it will be slurped up and be made available to people that I don't want it available to.
- slg 3y ago
  Now you are arguing separate issues. There are three concerns here: data collection, data brokering, and data security. Your complaint is about the latter two. Addressing the data collection would certainly address the other two, but if those are the concerns why shouldn't we make laws focusing on them rather than the collection?
throwworhtthrow 3y ago
In the case of Target, they might mail your pregnant teenage daughter a flier for newborn items before she's told you the news. https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/magazine/shopping-habits.html https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/magazine/shopping-habits....
mbauman 3y ago
Unfortunately it can also matter if your boss knows. Or the company you’re interviewing with. It shouldn’t matter (and would be illegal if it could be proven), but it matters.