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Facebook’s Data Deals Are Under Criminal Investigation

nytimes.com

211–220 of 248 posts

Re: Facebook’s Data Deals Are Under Criminal Investigation

#211
post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They’re a regular Wells Fargo.

Then they'll be perfectly fine in the long run. Maybe Warren Buffett can even get in on some shares at a discount.

Seems likely. Probably a large, meaningless fine.

Re: Facebook’s Data Deals Are Under Criminal Investigation

#213

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple fights the privacy battles on its users behalf only where it sees a PR benefit, like the high publicity FBI's iPhone encryption dispute a few years ago.

wprq: So which phone does a concerned person buy?

iOS device with iOS 11 or newer (current devices are on iOS 12)... or don't log into Facebook on an older device.

This isn't Apple cynically hiding selling your data behind your back. Back when they had Facebook integrated it was so that you could share stuff easier with your friends. Yes it was a security risk because of how Facebook used the information. That is part of the reason Apple removed the integration.

Re: Facebook’s Data Deals Are Under Criminal Investigation

#214

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple fights the privacy battles on its users behalf only where it sees a PR benefit, like the high publicity FBI's iPhone encryption dispute a few years ago.

wprq: So which phone does a concerned person buy?

As far as I know Replicant[1] is the only completely open option (besides the baseband OS). I would love to run it myself if it supported more phones, although I have not personally tried it. I keep an eye on the project though. Other projects like Copperhead OS[2] have all mysteriously imploded.

[1]: https://replicant.us/

[2]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17289536

Re: Facebook’s Data Deals Are Under Criminal Investigation

#215

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are lots of crimes that require a mental state less than intent (either recklessness or criminal negligence, mostly, though there are some strict liability crimes, and the weird case of “malice aforethought” for common law murder which is narrower than recklessness but just slightly broader than only intent.)

Recklessness and negligence require some understanding of what you are doing and that it's wrong. So, it's really hard to commit them by mistake.

You know data often leaks and leads to identity theft and yet you slurp it down anyways and freely share it around. Sounds reckless and negligent to me.

Re: Facebook’s Data Deals Are Under Criminal Investigation

#216

Earlier quoted context omitted.

wprq: So which phone does a concerned person buy?

iOS device with iOS 11 or newer (current devices are on iOS 12)... or don't log into Facebook on an older device. This isn't Apple cynically hiding selling your data behind your back. Back when they had Facebook integrated it was so that you could share stuff easier with your friends. Yes it was a security risk because of how Facebook used the information. That is part of the reason Apple removed the integration.

> This isn't Apple cynically hiding selling your data behind your back.

It's just both a grave security mistake and a breach of trust to treat Facebook preferentially without letting the user know.

To me, it's indistinguishable from cynically handing over the user to Facebook.

Re: Facebook’s Data Deals Are Under Criminal Investigation

#218

Earlier quoted context omitted.

iOS device with iOS 11 or newer (current devices are on iOS 12)... or don't log into Facebook on an older device. This isn't Apple cynically hiding selling your data behind your back. Back when they had Facebook integrated it was so that you could share stuff easier with your friends. Yes it was a security risk because of how Facebook used the information. That is part of the reason Apple removed the integration.

> This isn't Apple cynically hiding selling your data behind your back. It's just both a grave security mistake and a breach of trust to treat Facebook preferentially without letting the user know. To me, it's indistinguishable from cynically handing over the user to Facebook.

the user who logged into Facebook...

It's not good. It stopped in 2017 when they removed Facebook integration.

Re: Facebook’s Data Deals Are Under Criminal Investigation

#219

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple fights the privacy battles on its users behalf only where it sees a PR benefit, like the high publicity FBI's iPhone encryption dispute a few years ago.

wprq: So which phone does a concerned person buy?

You don't.

Though I suppose a dumb phone would do, or maybe a LineageOS/MicroG-based smartphone.

Re: Facebook’s Data Deals Are Under Criminal Investigation

#220

> F.T.C. officials, who spent the past year investigating whether Facebook violated the 2011 agreement, are now weighing the sharing deals as they negotiate a possible multibillion-dollar fine. That would be the largest such penalty ever imposed by the trade regulator. A multibillion dollar fine? That's great, but even greater would be to put Facebook's exces behind bars. A CEO shouldn't walk away with a stuffed bank…

> but even greater would be to put Facebook's exces behind bars. What is with this place wanting to throw everyone in prison? Is there some thrill you get from seeing executives in an orange jumper? Fines can be far more beneficial to society. Make them pay in a way that actually helps other people.

Fines are absorbed as a cost of doing business and are not a disincentive.

Jail. Jail for a looooong time. Only in negatively and significantly affecting the life or lives of those responsible will there be adequate justice.

Better question is, what is it with HN and rallying to the defense of unethical and illegal business practices?

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