Opt Out From Online Behavioral Advertising By Participating Companies • Hacker News Board

Re: Opt Out From Online Behavioral Advertising By Participating Companies

#31

Post by mholt » Wed, Mar 30, 2016, 9:24 PM UTC

surferbayarea wrote: post #29

People don't care. It is funny that smart people don't care about tech and ad companies violating their privacy by collecting data and profiting from it. But they have an issue with the government doing it to protect them. Perhaps has something to do with the fact that silicon valley's success is based on the advertising business model and violation of people's privacy.

> It is funny that smart people don't care about tech and ad companies violating their privacy by collecting data and profiting from it.

[citation needed]

Also define "smart."

Re: Opt Out From Online Behavioral Advertising By Participating Companies

#32

Post by pavel_lishin » Wed, Mar 30, 2016, 9:25 PM UTC

surferbayarea wrote: post #29

People don't care. It is funny that smart people don't care about tech and ad companies violating their privacy by collecting data and profiting from it. But they have an issue with the government doing it to protect them. Perhaps has something to do with the fact that silicon valley's success is based on the advertising business model and violation of people's privacy.

For me, it has a lot to do with the fact that I have more to fear from the government collecting a lot of information about me than I do from having ad companies collecting information about me.

Re: Opt Out From Online Behavioral Advertising By Participating Companies

#33

Post by deanCommie » Wed, Mar 30, 2016, 9:25 PM UTC

surferbayarea wrote: post #29

People don't care. It is funny that smart people don't care about tech and ad companies violating their privacy by collecting data and profiting from it. But they have an issue with the government doing it to protect them. Perhaps has something to do with the fact that silicon valley's success is based on the advertising business model and violation of people's privacy.

Or perhaps it's because people don't trust that the government is interested in protecting them. If a private company uses the information it has on you maliciously at least you have some recourse - a competitor, or the justice system.

When the powers in charge decide to use your data against you because they don't like your political stances, who is going to protect you?

Re: Opt Out From Online Behavioral Advertising By Participating Companies

#34

Post by bitdeveloper » Wed, Mar 30, 2016, 9:26 PM UTC

surferbayarea wrote: post #29

People don't care. It is funny that smart people don't care about tech and ad companies violating their privacy by collecting data and profiting from it. But they have an issue with the government doing it to protect them. Perhaps has something to do with the fact that silicon valley's success is based on the advertising business model and violation of people's privacy.

I think it has to do with the fact that the government can imprison you years, or for life. Even if you were breaking a law on accident, or unknowingly.

It's a matter of power imbalance.

Re: Opt Out From Online Behavioral Advertising By Participating Companies

#35

Post by branchless » Wed, Mar 30, 2016, 9:32 PM UTC

kuschku wrote: post #25

branchless wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

any downsides to this?

Google+ Notifications don’t work on any Google sites except for plus.google.com (so you can’t view your notifications on other sites). But that’s it.

Thanks guys. Enabled!

Re: Opt Out From Online Behavioral Advertising By Participating Companies

#36

Post by degif » Wed, Mar 30, 2016, 9:32 PM UTC

surferbayarea wrote: post #29

People don't care. It is funny that smart people don't care about tech and ad companies violating their privacy by collecting data and profiting from it. But they have an issue with the government doing it to protect them. Perhaps has something to do with the fact that silicon valley's success is based on the advertising business model and violation of people's privacy.

The issue is that advertising companies do not lie about why they track me - it's about them getting more revenue and that is ok with me. But I'm not so sure about the governmental espionage protection thingy.

Re: Opt Out From Online Behavioral Advertising By Participating Companies

#37

Post by vitd » Wed, Mar 30, 2016, 9:33 PM UTC

pavel_lishin wrote: post #32

surferbayarea wrote: post #29

People don't care. It is funny that smart people don't care about tech and ad companies violating their privacy by collecting data and profiting from it. But they have an issue with the government doing it to protect them. Perhaps has something to do with the fact that silicon valley's success is based on the advertising business model and violation of people's privacy.

For me, it has a lot to do with the fact that I have more to fear from the government collecting a lot of information about me than I do from having ad companies collecting information about me.

I don't know about you, but I just assume that the government is a client of the ad companies and is buying data about me from them.

Re: Opt Out From Online Behavioral Advertising By Participating Companies

#38

Post by vitd » Wed, Mar 30, 2016, 9:35 PM UTC

0xffff2 wrote: post #26

Is there any legitimate use for third-party cookies (which is all this seems to analyze)? I disabled third-party cookies years ago and I have never noticed any negative side effects at all.

I'm not sure, but I have had web sites I need to use like my bank (a large well-known multi-national bank) complain when I browse in private mode. It seems to work anyway, but it tells me several times that things might not work unless I turn off private mode. I don't know if I'm lucky, or if they're just lying to get me to accept trackers.

Re: Opt Out From Online Behavioral Advertising By Participating Companies

#39

Post by hoopsho » Wed, Mar 30, 2016, 9:35 PM UTC

Our project can help out here too... With Metiix Blockade (free as in beer) we can see every request that is blocked, what url caused the blocked request as well as protect each device in the network from tracking, ads, and malware related websites.

Re: Opt Out From Online Behavioral Advertising By Participating Companies

#40

Post by Dwolb » Wed, Mar 30, 2016, 9:36 PM UTC

surferbayarea wrote: post #29

People don't care. It is funny that smart people don't care about tech and ad companies violating their privacy by collecting data and profiting from it. But they have an issue with the government doing it to protect them. Perhaps has something to do with the fact that silicon valley's success is based on the advertising business model and violation of people's privacy.

I don't think it's that simple. I believe people do care if they're getting tracked, for what reason, and for the possible repercussions.

We can compare the issues between a marketing on Facebook re-targeting you and the government recording your text messages. In one scenario, your preferences are exposed and used to present you with an advertisment to buy a good. In the other scenario, you can be analyzed for whether or not you've committed a crime or are about to commit a crime.

The two scenarios have vastly different consequences with varying levels of mindshare for thr general public.