"Under the proposed settlement, MoviePass, Inc ...will be barred from misrepresenting their business and data security practices."
Isn't this how things are supposed to be from the onset? That'll teach 'em!
MoviePass settles FTC allegations that they limited usage, exposed user data
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Re: MoviePass settles FTC allegations that they limited usage, exposed user data
#32It appears the MoviePass master plan for world domination was inspired by the underpants gnomes of South Park[a]: Step 1. Charge customers $10/month for unlimited passes to movie theaters Step 2. Change passwords to prevent customers from getting their passes Step 3. ??? -- [a] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO5sxLapAts
Also relevantly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBO_7UezpbY
Re: MoviePass settles FTC allegations that they limited usage, exposed user data
#33For a subscription based business, that’s just extremely unethical
Re: MoviePass settles FTC allegations that they limited usage, exposed user data
#34If a private individual did the things set out here they'd be criminally liable. When a company executive orders employees to do these things, they're not facing any criminal complaint at all (any of them). See also Wells Fargo multiple thefts (both fraudulent accounts with fees, and literally entire homes/all possessions). It is pretty evident that many laws are constructed (e.g. CFAA) wherein there's one rule for i…
In regard to financial institutions getting away with crime, a former SEC commissioner became exasperated that this had become US government policy by 2015:
“the latest series of actions has effectively rendered criminal convictions of financial institutions largely symbolic.”
https://www.sec.gov/news/statement/stein-waivers-granted-dis...
Re: MoviePass settles FTC allegations that they limited usage, exposed user data
#35The government knows the executives at MoviePass committed theft, but we will not see any criminal charges filed.
Crime is a social construct. edit: A poor person who steals is charged. A rich person who steals behind the facade of a company is not. We call the poor person a criminal. It's entirely divorced from an actual moral framework, but simply constructed. I was agreeing with the commenter I replied to.
Simplistic. A poor person is not usually trusted, so their thefts are often more egregious.
Re: MoviePass settles FTC allegations that they limited usage, exposed user data
#36Earlier quoted context omitted.
im not sure id put MoviePass in the same category as FAANG
It’s different degrees of abuse. Moviepass committed fraud, and FAANG are not committing that kind of crime, they do engage in sketchy things. The whole ad business model is sketchy, getting people addicted to “binging” on content is questionable, Amz and its commingling issues, copying resellers, it’s terrible review system and well, social media siphoning personal data unscrupulously.... that’s not exactly stand up…
im certainly not defending big tech, but as you say, they have different problems than MoviePass did.
Re: MoviePass settles FTC allegations that they limited usage, exposed user data
#37If a private individual did the things set out here they'd be criminally liable. When a company executive orders employees to do these things, they're not facing any criminal complaint at all (any of them). See also Wells Fargo multiple thefts (both fraudulent accounts with fees, and literally entire homes/all possessions). It is pretty evident that many laws are constructed (e.g. CFAA) wherein there's one rule for i…
Congrats, you've discovered:
"Dictatorship of the Bourgeoisie"
About 150 years late, though.
Re: MoviePass settles FTC allegations that they limited usage, exposed user data
#38Couldn't users just go through the reset password flow or did MoviePass disable that as well? Not saying this isn't bad just trying to understand how far MoviePass went to stop users.
Not sure, but I would be happy if this case was brought even if users were still able to reset their passwords to access the service. This would mean that the FTC takes dark patterns that attempt to prevent a customer's rightful use of a service seriously.
If MoviePass had concerns about losing money on customers who had not violated any terms, the right thing to do would be to re-evaluate their plans/pricing.
Re: MoviePass settles FTC allegations that they limited usage, exposed user data
#39Classic tactic, similar to insurance companies who advertise great service but throw every caveat in the book at you when you actually file a claim, such that you can’t get to use, you know, what you actually paid for… There has to be a term for this?
Yes, it’s called a “contract”.
Re: MoviePass settles FTC allegations that they limited usage, exposed user data
#40Unpopular opinion, but MoviePass could have survived a lot longer if they had more funding. I think there could have been a real opportunity with establishing themselves the main funnel to getting consumers to physical theaters. They couldn't hold on long enough to see what could be possible with such a moat.
They could never survive -- their customer demand came from selling $10 movie tickets for $9 -- funded entirely by investor burn.
A sustainable business is one where you sell cinema tickets for $11 having bought them for $10 with the customer choosing you because you've added more than $1 in value for them.
It's a car racing down a hill. The acceleration looks exponential but it's just going to crash.