The targeted ad industry grew during the time where data privacy was not being actively discussed in the mainstream, it grew to be a massive cash cow for some o

The targeted ad industry grew during the time where data privacy was not being actively discussed in the mainstream, it grew to be a massive cash cow for some of the largest tech corporations to ever exist. After this period we have found the issues with the lack of control on data privacy, we now know much better the side-effects of that, and people want it to be controlled. Your argument is that because the industry is massive it now shouldn't be controlled even though it can be harmful because it might increase costs, or it might create annoyances. Try to apply the same argument to other industries which are regulated due to their potential harm to see how flimsy this argument is. Food could be much cheaper if there were few regulations on quality control, cars could be much cheaper if safety devices weren't required. > Are you ok with a recession in Ad-based ecosystem (merchants, ad brokers, stock market depression, fewer IPOs) that may result due to this? Totally ok, it will free up brilliant minds working on this to figure out new, and potentially better ways that fit into a more privacy-focused regulatory framework. > Edit : Expected nothing better than downvotes from massively brainwashed HNers with ZERO independent thinking. The irony isn't lost that they are the 84% ers Refrain from this bullshit here.