Earlier quoted context omitted.
What's the worst a store can do to you, what's the worst a government can do to you? Don't make me confirm Godwin's law about democratically elected government.
A store can sell its data to authoritarian governments that can jail people, to insurance companies that in some countries can prevent you from getting a credit card, a loan or even a job. Now another question: what the best a government is likely to do with this data? What is the best a private company is likely to do with it?
I find it unlikely that my local supermarket is going to sell my purchasing habits to China or Iran. I'm far more worried about my local government getting their hands on it, but at that point I don't see the distinction.
>to insurance companies that in some countries can prevent you from getting a credit card, a loan or even a job.
In what country are insurance companies determining whether you can get a credit card/loan/job? Are you sure you don't mean credit bureaus?