> Google says it has access to roughly 70% of U.S. credit and debit card transactions.
I don't get it, does VISA, MASTERCARD or AMEX just gives google the transactions? That got to be illegal, right?
Google starts tracking what people buy in physical stores
131–140 of 252 posts
Re: Google starts tracking what people buy in physical stores
#132Earlier quoted context omitted.
Think it's actually 4%. Seriously huge fines
Just wait to see how the lawyers game these. my bet is no major corp ever pays a penalty that high, ever. there may be some egregious offender that gets caught with this, but not one of the big boys.
If I'm in debt to somebody 10.000, he owns me. If I'm in debt 10.000.000, I own him. Huge fines for behemoths will always be negotiated.
Nevertheless, it's a strong incentive for even the biggest companies to follow the law. EU has the capability and desire to enforce huge fines to make sure data protection laws are obeyed.
Re: Google starts tracking what people buy in physical stores
#133FTA: "Google says it has access to roughly 70% of U.S. credit and debit card transactions through partnerships with companies that track that data." Wow.
Exactly.
Google: You're already way too deep in our lives and now this. When will you ever stop? When you own us?
Re: Google starts tracking what people buy in physical stores
#134Earlier quoted context omitted.
Sooner or later people will start to revolt and either go back to use semi-anonymous cash or truly anonymous payment systems like bitcoin. Google and advertising will then be in the dark.
Bitcoin is not "truly anonymous" by default. All transactions are public and can be traced back to you, unless you use non-logging bitcoin mixers for every single transaction.
No, you just mix a bunch, and then use them. But you must use VPNs and/or Tor, to avoid linkage by IP address. If you want compartmentalization, just mix into separate wallets. And if you want strong compartmentalization, do everything via Tor, and put those wallets in separate VMs (such as Whonix).
Re: Google starts tracking what people buy in physical stores
#135FTA: "Google says it has access to roughly 70% of U.S. credit and debit card transactions through partnerships with companies that track that data." Wow.
MasterCard and Visa not only make money from each credit card transaction but to add insult to injury, they make money selling that transaction data as well! That's what I call a ludicrous business.
Indeed - and with their stupid reward programs they essentially buy the users to spend more and more with them.
Re: Google starts tracking what people buy in physical stores
#136This is probably an unusual opinion, but for me privacy is similar to freedom. Freedom is usually defined as a negative: people are free of oppression, have freedom of speech (freedom from speech being constrained), freedom of movement (not forced to stay in one place), religious freedom (freedom to believe what one will and not be limited in practice or assembly), etc. Privacy is the freedom from being watched, from…
I think it's important to note the definition of privacy you use is important. For me, in my daily life, all of this is completely "private". Google having my data in mass and an identity profile on me that no human will ever specifically look at is just as good as private to me. The fact that computers will be handing this data, not other humans, is an important distinction for me. No human will ever see my individu…
> Google having my data in mass and an identity profile on me that no human will ever specifically look at is just as good as private to me.
This feels like saying "I have nothing to hide".
Re: Google starts tracking what people buy in physical stores
#137This is probably an unusual opinion, but for me privacy is similar to freedom. Freedom is usually defined as a negative: people are free of oppression, have freedom of speech (freedom from speech being constrained), freedom of movement (not forced to stay in one place), religious freedom (freedom to believe what one will and not be limited in practice or assembly), etc. Privacy is the freedom from being watched, from…
I think it's important to note the definition of privacy you use is important. For me, in my daily life, all of this is completely "private". Google having my data in mass and an identity profile on me that no human will ever specifically look at is just as good as private to me. The fact that computers will be handing this data, not other humans, is an important distinction for me. No human will ever see my individu…
"in all likelihood" ... the key bit.
The US, for example, is one presidency away from complete democratic failure. By which I mean all that data, which now is effectively, "in all likelihood", private via volume, can and will be abused.
Giving up and allowing privacy to fail now only makes disastrous consequences more likely later at the whim of that centralised power you mention.
Re: Google starts tracking what people buy in physical stores
#138Earlier quoted context omitted.
MasterCard and Visa not only make money from each credit card transaction but to add insult to injury, they make money selling that transaction data as well! That's what I call a ludicrous business.
Or like cable companies trying to get you to pay for TV and then also wanting you to watch commercials. It's all about double dipping.
And Cinemas! I realized a few years ago with the Scottish Indy Ref, that the BBC was state media so I briefly stopped watching and paying for that service.
As a result, everything else that is moving media is surrounded by spam. Even if you pay 60 pound for a premium service (Think how much money it is, even if you have infinite money), you will spend 1/3 of that time watching Adverts.
It is like a Freemium Game Model but when you pay, it doesn't matter.
I have no idea why people are so careless with their time. Now that I ditched TV/Film, and found other ways to fill that time, I honestly feel better within myself. I twiddle around with robots while listening to the 20 hour audiobook (of your 90 minute film), or try to grow Carrots with some weird automated soil probe remotely at an Allotment.
Compared to the enjoyment I get from these time fillers, motion picture is honestly the lowest form of entertainment and the lest rewarding.
Re: Google starts tracking what people buy in physical stores
#139> The new tracking system was created in consultation with “incredibly smart people” to ensure it's not invasive. He described the program as “secure and privacy safe.” It's not "incredibly smart people" you need; it's "highly ethical people".
Sooner or later people will start to revolt and either go back to use semi-anonymous cash or truly anonymous payment systems like bitcoin. Google and advertising will then be in the dark.
Only if we don't all but lose the option of cash before then. The war on cash is being waged, more in some countries than others, but is a political trend to envision a future without cash.
Re: Google starts tracking what people buy in physical stores
#140Earlier quoted context omitted.
Think it's actually 4%. Seriously huge fines
Just wait to see how the lawyers game these. my bet is no major corp ever pays a penalty that high, ever. there may be some egregious offender that gets caught with this, but not one of the big boys.
They actually do get fined huge sums, and they do pay up. To them it is just the cost of doing business.
Facebook getting fined for privacy violations: