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Data breaches are one thing, but the pervasive use of trackers and profiling/fingerprinting is much scarier and has potentially much worse consequences if left

Data breaches are one thing, but the pervasive use of trackers and profiling/fingerprinting is much scarier and has potentially much worse consequences if left unfettered. Or stuff like my smart car streaming data without my permission to my insurer about how I’m driving. It’s pervasive and gross and you have no recourse if the system is screwing you unfairly (which it will). You shouldn’t need specifics about my device info or browser for your site to work. And you certainly should make it easy to opt out of whatever data you’re selling on me when I use your services, unfortunately we seem to be in a race to the bottom there.

doctorpangloss 2y ago
With regards to the car insurance: they could raise the prices without the data, right? Would car insurance getting more expensive be characterized as “screwing you”? That sounds valid, and you’re not a corporation that sells something people forced to buy, but it sounds like your problem is with auto insurance.
- bluefirebrand 2y ago
  > Would car insurance getting more expensive be characterized as “screwing you” Insurance is highly regulated in most places to prevent frivolous price increases, so.. yes. Absolutely it would be "screwing you", which is why it got regulated
- j33zusjuice 2y ago
  You’re forced to buy car insurance in the US, and the insurance business is all kinds of fucked here. Fines for not having car insurance are massive, and driving without it can lead to jail time (idk the circumstances that trigger this). I think the point is that a consumer’s insurance rate may go up based on an arbitrary KPI the insurance company chose, of which the consumer was not necessarily (made) aware, based on information the consumer never opted to share, information that comes with a considerable lack of context, no less. We’re not necessarily talking about accidents, or breaking laws, either. It’s determined by the insurance company using proprietary algorithms, and you have no recourse if your rates go up. It’s privatized tyranny.
- JohnMakin 2y ago
  > but it sounds like your problem is with auto insurance. It was a single example I provided. You can find many others without looking very hard.
ta235235235 2y ago
[flagged]
beardyw 2y ago
I remember discussing insurance rates with an actuary in the 1980s. It was in relation to using your address to modify rates. His point was that it is his job to create attractive rates where possible, but to avoid unprofitable claims exposure. To do this he wanted all the data he could get. Nothing changes.

doctorpangloss 2y ago

With regards to the car insurance: they could raise the prices without the data, right? Would car insurance getting more expensive be characterized as “screwing you”? That sounds valid, and you’re not a corporation that sells something people forced to buy, but it sounds like your problem is with auto insurance.

bluefirebrand 2y ago
> Would car insurance getting more expensive be characterized as “screwing you” Insurance is highly regulated in most places to prevent frivolous price increases, so.. yes. Absolutely it would be "screwing you", which is why it got regulated
j33zusjuice 2y ago
You’re forced to buy car insurance in the US, and the insurance business is all kinds of fucked here. Fines for not having car insurance are massive, and driving without it can lead to jail time (idk the circumstances that trigger this). I think the point is that a consumer’s insurance rate may go up based on an arbitrary KPI the insurance company chose, of which the consumer was not necessarily (made) aware, based on information the consumer never opted to share, information that comes with a considerable lack of context, no less. We’re not necessarily talking about accidents, or breaking laws, either. It’s determined by the insurance company using proprietary algorithms, and you have no recourse if your rates go up. It’s privatized tyranny.
JohnMakin 2y ago
> but it sounds like your problem is with auto insurance. It was a single example I provided. You can find many others without looking very hard.

ta235235235 2y ago

[flagged]

beardyw 2y ago

I remember discussing insurance rates with an actuary in the 1980s. It was in relation to using your address to modify rates. His point was that it is his job to create attractive rates where possible, but to avoid unprofitable claims exposure. To do this he wanted all the data he could get. Nothing changes.