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> The problem is that the big tech companies aren't holding up their end of the traditional social contract. This analogy feels too strained. Google gives awa
by Aurornis 8mo ago
> The problem is that the big tech companies aren't holding up their end of the traditional social contract.
This analogy feels too strained.
Google gives away Maps, Gmail, and other products for free. A little UI widget inviting users to submit fixes is hardly an onerous demand.
> and they will of course log your location history and sell it to the highest bidder.
Google does not do this, no matter how many times this myth gets repeated online.
I think a lot of people in the Reddit and Reddit-adjacent world believe this is true because it gets repeated so much, but it's not true.
Ironically, Reddit makes money by packaging up user's content and selling it to 3rd parties.
- InsideOutSanta 8mo agoNeither Google Maps nor Gmail are given away for free. Both products generate vast amounts of revenue.
- seba_dos1 8mo agoIt doesn't even matter that it generates revenue, they could "give it away for free" and yet earn vast amounts of money with it just fine - but they never gave it away to anyone! They just let you use it "for free" right now, but could change their mind at a whim and stop, or even ban you specifically because they just feel like it. They're the only owners of data you contribute and it's not being given away, but strictly guarded. Compare with OSM, which actually is being "given away for free" even though people still do monetize it. They just do it on the same terms as anyone else could.
- bushbaba 8mo agoGoogle does do this. I saw it first hand while employed by Google. They sell your location data. Yes it’s not in the raw but it is sold as part of targeted ads
- mda 8mo agoAbsolute nonsense. If you have a smidgen of proof please tell us.