why?

  • emergencyfood@sh.itjust.works
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    1 year ago

    The more a company knows about you, the more money they can make out of you. For example, cab companies have been caught increasing prices for customers whose phone batteries were dying.

    Unless you are a journalist, high-ranking civil servant or military officer, foreign governments aren’t usually a huge threat. You are most likely not worth their time, and (apart from maybe the US) it’s not like they can actually do anything to you.

    • R0cket_M00se@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I didn’t say that me as an individual was worth the time of a foreign government, because I’m not talking about one off events like someone wanting information on me specifically.

      I’m talking about the attempt by foreign nationals to undermine our entire society by preying on social media and misinformation. The kind of shit thats been affecting people on Facebook for years now and thats being used to affect the Tiktok algorithm as well.

      • emergencyfood@sh.itjust.works
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        1 year ago

        Fair point. But if a foreign government can use Facebook / TikTok data to undermine society, can’t big companies or other interest groups do the same? More importantly, can’t Facebook or TikTok do the same? At least governments have checks and balances, and are at least theoretically accountable to their people. Companies can do whatever they like.

        • R0cket_M00se@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Companies don’t need to follow laws? Last time I checked the reason they can “do whatever they want” is the same as the government’s. Because no one ever fucking holds their feet to a fire. In theory both entities are held to standards, in reality neither are.

          • emergencyfood@sh.itjust.works
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            1 year ago

            Companies don’t need to follow laws?

            Many do follow the law, but have the law written to their convenience. Why bother stealing data when you can get it for free from people who don’t know any better?