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>And they're taking tens of thousands (if not hundreds?) of some of the brightest minds in tech away from things like drug discovery, climate change, energy res

>And they're taking tens of thousands (if not hundreds?) of some of the brightest minds in tech away from things like drug discovery, climate change, energy research, etc. Taking them away from those things? I doubt it - the top talent will always be sold to the highest bidder and its unlikely "climate change research" is a segment that can support thousands of of mid-high six figure salaries. Next while these companies do collect a large amount of personal data - their purpose is clear and as is their boundaries. There is a strong effort to keep adopt data secure - if a user was found using private facebook data to stalk loved ones[1] I don't doubt thats activity that would (1) noticed by their systems they have in place to prevent data from ending up in the wrong place and (2) they would be fired for. Lastly with Google and Facebook you have a choice - its still in your control - if you want to use these services or not and it doesn't require a secret court to challenge them. [1] http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2013/08/23/bloomberg_report_nsa_employees_have_deliberately_abused_their_power.html http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2013/08/23/bloomberg...

MichaelGG 12y ago
Facebook's trying to take that choice away by getting ISPs in some countries to give free Facebook access. I see billboards in Guatemala hyping up that if you're out of credit on your account, they will still allow you to use Facebook and WhatsApp. So for many low-income people, where having to pay $10 or so for some light data plan isn't possible, their only choice to be online is Facebook. Sure, it's a choice. Just like using the Internet is a choice. Like using phones is a choice. Like choosing automobiles over walking is a choice. But not all choices are equal.
- nemothekid 12y ago
  >So for many low-income people, where having to pay $10 or so for some light data plan isn't possible, their only choice to be online is Facebook. So what do you expect to see here? Are you expecting Facebook subsidize the cost of getting the users online to any destination, or do you wish to remove the choice to use facebook for anyone who couldn't pay $10? This is more like "Like choosing taking the bus to city centre over walking directly to my office 300ft outside the city centre is a choice." Bus or no, at the end of the day I still can't afford a full fledged automobile. Even if they paid me to use Facebook, that wouldn't affect my decision on whether or not I want them to have access to information. If the US government decides to subsidize community college and make it free, they aren't taking away my choice to go to a private school.

MichaelGG 12y ago

Facebook's trying to take that choice away by getting ISPs in some countries to give free Facebook access. I see billboards in Guatemala hyping up that if you're out of credit on your account, they will still allow you to use Facebook and WhatsApp. So for many low-income people, where having to pay $10 or so for some light data plan isn't possible, their only choice to be online is Facebook. Sure, it's a choice. Just like using the Internet is a choice. Like using phones is a choice. Like choosing automobiles over walking is a choice. But not all choices are equal.

nemothekid 12y ago
>So for many low-income people, where having to pay $10 or so for some light data plan isn't possible, their only choice to be online is Facebook. So what do you expect to see here? Are you expecting Facebook subsidize the cost of getting the users online to any destination, or do you wish to remove the choice to use facebook for anyone who couldn't pay $10? This is more like "Like choosing taking the bus to city centre over walking directly to my office 300ft outside the city centre is a choice." Bus or no, at the end of the day I still can't afford a full fledged automobile. Even if they paid me to use Facebook, that wouldn't affect my decision on whether or not I want them to have access to information. If the US government decides to subsidize community college and make it free, they aren't taking away my choice to go to a private school.