The pernicious argument of adtech shills has been (for long time) that the pilfering of personal user data is the only way to support the web, news, social medi

The pernicious argument of adtech shills has been (for long time) that the pilfering of personal user data is the only way to support the web, news, social media etc. because... people will simply not pay for these services - hence they opt to become the product. Enter the mutation of the car into a "digital platform" and the expansion of the data heist in a market and product where - last I checked - no car was ever given for free. Lets face it. User data collection and monetisation is not a necessity, has never been. Its an opportunistic choice and a moral attitude that exploited dysfunctional legal and regulatory systems and an ignorant and aloof public. Maybe that regression is indeed a new "normal". The issue is that normalizing those business models in one domain invariably expands and leaks them in all domains. If personal data exploitation is the new gold rush how can you argue that x, y, or z industries are not entitled to a serving? Why should your bank, or your pharmacy or any random business you interact with via a digitised service or product not be able to monetise your behavior with third parties? Moral decay and generational greed have opened a Pandora's box that will keep on giving.