4 ms·

I don't know if it's ironic so much as it is simple two-facedness. >Google, Facebook, et al, collect data in exchange for a service. You can use incognito mode

I don't know if it's ironic so much as it is simple two-facedness. >Google, Facebook, et al, collect data in exchange for a service. You can use incognito mode for Google, or just not use Facebook at all. >The NSA collects your data whether you want it to or not, and you have no say other than to just not create any data. The contrast between these two sentences is what makes your point weak. There might be a difference between corporate and government surveillance, but you haven't approached it.

skj 13y ago
Sorry if I wasn't clear. The difference is that Google, Facebook, et al are opt-in. The NSA offers you no such choice.
- shadowfox 13y ago
  > The difference is that Google, Facebook, et al are opt-in With the remarkable penetration of things like google analytics and the ilk, this may not be quite that simple.
  - hdevalence 13y ago
    Moxie has also pointed out that the choice is not simply "Do I want to be surveilled by Google?" or "Do I want the telco to track my every move?". It's stuff like "Do I want to stop talking to all of my friends who use GMail?". Or "Do I want to not have a cellphone and prevent myself from participating in informal social event planning?".
- Helianthus 13y ago
  You were perfectly clear. You've made it clear yourself that the opt-in fiction is just that, just as the difference between corporate and government surveillance, such as it is, does not rely on any opt-in mechanism or lack thereof. Don't give us this crap that there is a difference between the two when your point is so self-defeating.
  - skj 13y ago
    I guess one difference is that you are relying on the assumption that Google is a bad actor. Google's actions have not shown that, and the benefit of the doubt is an important ideal.
    - sharemywin 13y ago
      how do you even know they do it all behind closed doors. with a one size fits all non negotiable contract.

skj 13y ago

Sorry if I wasn't clear. The difference is that Google, Facebook, et al are opt-in. The NSA offers you no such choice.

shadowfox 13y ago
> The difference is that Google, Facebook, et al are opt-in With the remarkable penetration of things like google analytics and the ilk, this may not be quite that simple.
- hdevalence 13y ago
  Moxie has also pointed out that the choice is not simply "Do I want to be surveilled by Google?" or "Do I want the telco to track my every move?". It's stuff like "Do I want to stop talking to all of my friends who use GMail?". Or "Do I want to not have a cellphone and prevent myself from participating in informal social event planning?".
Helianthus 13y ago
You were perfectly clear. You've made it clear yourself that the opt-in fiction is just that, just as the difference between corporate and government surveillance, such as it is, does not rely on any opt-in mechanism or lack thereof. Don't give us this crap that there is a difference between the two when your point is so self-defeating.
- skj 13y ago
  I guess one difference is that you are relying on the assumption that Google is a bad actor. Google's actions have not shown that, and the benefit of the doubt is an important ideal.
  - sharemywin 13y ago
    how do you even know they do it all behind closed doors. with a one size fits all non negotiable contract.