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MoviePass settles FTC allegations that they limited usage, exposed user data

ftc.gov

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Re: MoviePass settles FTC allegations that they limited usage, exposed user data

#51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If corps are people, maybe they should receive jail sentences as such - and then their executives & beneficial owners can carry them out based on liability. A CEO that takes full control and makes a one-man-shop would therefore be fully liable for any sentence received, and can only avoid this be sharing control.

So if I were to own 1 share of $AMZN, I’d be criminally liable for anything the corporation does? Would I do 10 minutes in jail or something?

I don't think you're liable for any of Amazon's decisions. Maybe if you voted yes on "Engage in crime" but the decisions of executives are their own.

Re: MoviePass settles FTC allegations that they limited usage, exposed user data

#52

> First, according to the FTC, MoviePass’s operators invalidated subscriber passwords while falsely claiming to have detected “suspicious activity or potential fraud” on the accounts. MoviePass's operators did this even though some of its own executives raised questions about the scheme, according to the complaint. I'm going to go out on a limb and say the only reason the FTC was able to establish intent was because…

Yep - i'd be surprised if even a tenth of all white-collar crime is known about.

I thought white-collar crime was usually a person scamming a company. This is a company scamming their customers, which I think happens far more than 10x what we hear about.

Way back in the 90's I had a bank account that paid something like 5 percent interest, but only had a couple thousand dollars in it (maybe). I was between jobs and made no deposits for over a month - only withdrawals and only like 4 of them. I got to wondering about the interest and calculated it various ways. Calling the bank, they confirmed verbally that they use the average daily balance. By my calculations they exactly used the final balance (the minimum for the month). I concluded that someone somewhere realized that changing from "average" to "minimum" would make the bank a few extra bucks. Not a big difference if your balance is fairly stable, but a big deal if it's more volatile. They eventually got bought out a couple times, and interest rates are a joke now anyway.

Re: MoviePass settles FTC allegations that they limited usage, exposed user data

#53

If 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…

This is a joke. fraud is fraud. Civil penalties are not a good deterrent

I agree, but they weren't even penalized, so there's zero deterrent. It appears the court took into consideration that the company is bankrupt but failed to see the apparent criminal action taken by the company and CEOs.

Re: MoviePass settles FTC allegations that they limited usage, exposed user data

#54

"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!

Hey now, the government isn't messing around:

> violation of such an order may result in a civil penalty of up to $43,792

Oh. I think it would actually be more punitive to literally slap them on the wrist.

Re: MoviePass settles FTC allegations that they limited usage, exposed user data

#55

If 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…

IANAL, but it seems like the AG is still well within their power to press charges and consumers are still free to pursue class action.

I don’t see why your sexual activities are relevant.

Re: MoviePass settles FTC allegations that they limited usage, exposed user data

#56
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

So are criminal charges.

And the entire concept of ownership.

It's actually quite unbelievable how there can be societies that do have the concept of a death sentence, but don't have the concept of a property nullification sentence. "You may live, but you have to start at zero and any obligation someone might have to you is nullified". The inverse of bankruptcy, basically.

Re: MoviePass settles FTC allegations that they limited usage, exposed user data

#58
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

True, Our problem is they don’t think they have a problem when they clearly do.
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