USA needs law 'a lot like GDPR' says Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff

#1

Post by Bender » Wed, May 30, 2018, 2:12 PM UTC

USA needs law 'a lot like GDPR' says Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff
theregister.co.uk

Re: USA needs law 'a lot like GDPR' says Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff

#2

Post by neya » Wed, May 30, 2018, 2:41 PM UTC

I think this has been discussed before - The whole foundation of SalesForce is absolutely tracking every inch of a user, who you were what whitepaper you downloaded, where you're from, which stage of the funnel you're in, which industry you belong to, what's your company size, what's its revenue and the list goes on..

So, this is pretty ridiculous coming from a CEO of such a company, but hey, any publicity is good publicity, right?

Re: USA needs law 'a lot like GDPR' says Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff

#3

Post by wyldfire » Wed, May 30, 2018, 2:41 PM UTC

A consumer protection law like GDPR would probably be a good thing for US, but it's hard not to see this as SFDC saying, "As a multibillion-dollar SaaS vendor, we welcome regulation that might slow down or prevent a competitor from unseating us."

Re: USA needs law 'a lot like GDPR' says Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff

#4

Post by greatamerican » Wed, May 30, 2018, 2:45 PM UTC

Such a law will not survive a Constitutional challenge. Just rent seeking by an incumbent.

Re: USA needs law 'a lot like GDPR' says Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff

#5

Post by dmoy » Wed, May 30, 2018, 2:47 PM UTC

greatamerican wrote: post #4

Such a law will not survive a Constitutional challenge. Just rent seeking by an incumbent.

Could you elaborate? Most of us are not super well versed in constitutional law.

Re: USA needs law 'a lot like GDPR' says Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff

#6

Post by [deleted] » Wed, May 30, 2018, 2:48 PM UTC

neya wrote: post #2

I think this has been discussed before - The whole foundation of SalesForce is absolutely tracking every inch of a user, who you were what whitepaper you downloaded, where you're from, which stage of the funnel you're in, which industry you belong to, what's your company size, what's its revenue and the list goes on.. So, this is pretty ridiculous coming from a CEO of such a company, but hey, any publicity is good pu…

[deleted]

Re: USA needs law 'a lot like GDPR' says Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff

#7

Post by tarr11 » Wed, May 30, 2018, 2:49 PM UTC

neya wrote: post #2

I think this has been discussed before - The whole foundation of SalesForce is absolutely tracking every inch of a user, who you were what whitepaper you downloaded, where you're from, which stage of the funnel you're in, which industry you belong to, what's your company size, what's its revenue and the list goes on.. So, this is pretty ridiculous coming from a CEO of such a company, but hey, any publicity is good pu…

I don't think he's lying. But the reasons he wants GDPR are probably just as calculating as you would expect:

1. They already had to do most of this work for GDPR already so the cost will be lower

2. By saying this, he can be invited to meet with legislators who will shape the law.

3. Smaller competitors or startups will be discouraged from entering the market due to an increased regulatory environment (similar to PCI)

it's still probably a good idea but skepticism (and even cynicism) is certainly warranted

Re: USA needs law 'a lot like GDPR' says Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff

#8

Post by TAForObvReasons » Wed, May 30, 2018, 2:49 PM UTC

wyldfire wrote: post #3

A consumer protection law like GDPR would probably be a good thing for US, but it's hard not to see this as SFDC saying, "As a multibillion-dollar SaaS vendor, we welcome regulation that might slow down or prevent a competitor from unseating us."

The hope is that in a new regulatory landscape we will see the emergence of new companies. Just because the tech unicorns of the last 10-15 years, like uber and facebook, were backed on odious behavior doesn't mean that a more palatable business model won't be discovered.

Re: USA needs law 'a lot like GDPR' says Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff

#9

Post by lukasLansky » Wed, May 30, 2018, 2:49 PM UTC

neya wrote: post #2

I think this has been discussed before - The whole foundation of SalesForce is absolutely tracking every inch of a user, who you were what whitepaper you downloaded, where you're from, which stage of the funnel you're in, which industry you belong to, what's your company size, what's its revenue and the list goes on.. So, this is pretty ridiculous coming from a CEO of such a company, but hey, any publicity is good pu…

It's consistent to both want to change the rules and also to play acording to the current ones.

You can think that taxing property is better than taxing income, but you still pay what your state says, not more, not less.

Re: USA needs law 'a lot like GDPR' says Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff

#10

Post by kinsomo » Wed, May 30, 2018, 2:51 PM UTC

greatamerican wrote: post #4

Such a law will not survive a Constitutional challenge. Just rent seeking by an incumbent.

> Just rent seeking by an incumbent.

I disagree with the immediate labeling of a potential consumer protection law as "rent seeking." Such an attitude totally excludes any improvement in the consumer privacy situation, unless it's an act of benevolence from adtech; which is to say that it totally excludes any privacy improvement ever.