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Mad at Meta? Don't Let Them Collect and Monetize Your Personal Data

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Re: Mad at Meta? Don't Let Them Collect and Monetize Your Personal Data

#31

Post by ioajfg »

lokimokitako wrote: post #25
bitcurious wrote: post #19

I feel like only a few years ago the EFF was a non-partisan organization but for the last year every article of theirs I read has a distinctly American progressive perspective. Anyone know what’s behind the change? I’m struck by the complaint about loosening moderation, right next to a complaint about censorship. It’s a very unprincipled take from an org I used to respect.

Are you kidding? They have literally been the most progressive tech advocacy group in history. I’ve been donating annually since it was founded. They’ve been consistent. Maybe you’ve moved more to the right?

Historically, the EFF has been very pro free-speech. Now it seems like they're in the free-speech-but-only-if-we-agree-with-you camp.

Re: Mad at Meta? Don't Let Them Collect and Monetize Your Personal Data

#32

Post by kiba »

kristopolous wrote: post #23
bitcurious wrote: post #19

I feel like only a few years ago the EFF was a non-partisan organization but for the last year every article of theirs I read has a distinctly American progressive perspective. Anyone know what’s behind the change? I’m struck by the complaint about loosening moderation, right next to a complaint about censorship. It’s a very unprincipled take from an org I used to respect.

I don't think they've moved at all. It's more that the Overton window fell off a cliff about 10 years ago. They've always been about protecting privacy and liberty, just not the liberty to bully and harass people.

[EDIT] Wrong parent.

Re: Mad at Meta? Don't Let Them Collect and Monetize Your Personal Data

#33

Post by k310 »

Gormo wrote: post #5
jimmydoe wrote: post #2

for non tech ppl it’s too complicated to turn off ad settings. Just work with those close to you to export data and delete account. And you don’t have to do it all at once. You can delete X for them today and instagram next months. It’s a rehab process for addicts, they need your continuous love and care, or they might go back to those drugs.

The only way that the ever-growing risks inherent in being dependent on centralized platforms will ever be addressed is for "non tech people" to start learning about tech. There is no way to reconcile "I want to trust other people to do things I don't understand but are critically important to me" with "I don't want to allow third parties to have control over things that are critically important to me. You can neithe…

Having been involved with personal computing from its inception, I believe that companies made computers difficult to use for whatever reasons, be they catering to “power users”, business or just plain inattention to the non-techie user.

Apple was better in this respect, but in recent times, has vast mysteries. I have written up how to save tabs in ios Safari and (this is real good) how to convert a webp file to jpg or png on ios. It’s frickin baroque. (Vastly easier on a mac) But I digress.

Centralized web apps allowed people in essence to create web pages (without SeaMonkey). Apple had the key to hypertext with HyperCard and dropped it. And by the way, average people were writing their own apps in HyperCard. I was writing complex scientific graphing apps for work in HyperCard, and outputting EPS files for tech pubs.

I saw a simplified computer “for old folks” and can relate that when my non-tech brother got tired of reinstalling his drivers with every Windows update, switched to a Dell Linux system, packaged and supported and after some initial questions about apps to use, hasn’t asked me anything in years. It’s not that Linux is streamlined or simple. It’s just that when you install the 4 apps you use all the time, life is good.

I can’t say what should have taken place, because that’s in the “woulda coulda shoulda” basket and it’s best just to move forward.

Re: Mad at Meta? Don't Let Them Collect and Monetize Your Personal Data

#34

Post by kristopolous »

kiba wrote: post #32
kristopolous wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think they've moved at all. It's more that the Overton window fell off a cliff about 10 years ago. They've always been about protecting privacy and liberty, just not the liberty to bully and harass people.

[EDIT] Wrong parent.

I believe this is the wrong place in the thread. Did you mean to comment to the parent?

I agree that the American political parties currently represent rather niche positions that most people don't feel aligned with - they're pretty poor generalist labels for the various constellations of moral sentiments that we find in society.

Re: Mad at Meta? Don't Let Them Collect and Monetize Your Personal Data

#35

Post by yard2010 »

redleader55 wrote: post #10

I find it hilarious that the article starts with "are you mad at Meta for trying to appease the guy at the head of federal government" and ends with "we need strong federal privacy laws". It's the same federal government, you either trust it to legislate or you don't.

The current administration is an.. unprecedented one to say the least. Maybe I'm old.

Re: Mad at Meta? Don't Let Them Collect and Monetize Your Personal Data

#36

Post by handoflixue »

ioajfg wrote: post #31
lokimokitako wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you kidding? They have literally been the most progressive tech advocacy group in history. I’ve been donating annually since it was founded. They’ve been consistent. Maybe you’ve moved more to the right?

Historically, the EFF has been very pro free-speech. Now it seems like they're in the free-speech-but-only-if-we-agree-with-you camp.

Can you provide examples? I don't feel like opting out of data collection is a very good example there.

I definitely feel like the ACLU took a turn for the worse in that direction a few years ago. I'll be sad if the EFF is also headed that direction - they've struck me as one of the only ones that's still willing to stand on principle

Re: Mad at Meta? Don't Let Them Collect and Monetize Your Personal Data

#37

Post by kiba »

bitcurious wrote: post #19

I feel like only a few years ago the EFF was a non-partisan organization but for the last year every article of theirs I read has a distinctly American progressive perspective. Anyone know what’s behind the change? I’m struck by the complaint about loosening moderation, right next to a complaint about censorship. It’s a very unprincipled take from an org I used to respect.

The democrats are basically the institutionist and "status quo" defenders of American hegemony at this point. Doesn't matter how "left" you go, they are basically the 'conservative' now.

Also, saying the EFF is nonpartisan? The EFF always had a strong political point of view. If you label it right or left, that's your problem.

Re: Mad at Meta? Don't Let Them Collect and Monetize Your Personal Data

#38

Post by [deleted] »

kiba wrote: post #32
kristopolous wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think they've moved at all. It's more that the Overton window fell off a cliff about 10 years ago. They've always been about protecting privacy and liberty, just not the liberty to bully and harass people.

[EDIT] Wrong parent.

[deleted]

Re: Mad at Meta? Don't Let Them Collect and Monetize Your Personal Data

#39

Post by CSSer »

bitcurious wrote: post #19

I feel like only a few years ago the EFF was a non-partisan organization but for the last year every article of theirs I read has a distinctly American progressive perspective. Anyone know what’s behind the change? I’m struck by the complaint about loosening moderation, right next to a complaint about censorship. It’s a very unprincipled take from an org I used to respect.

Could it be that red states aren’t passing privacy laws? No snark intended. Privacy seems pretty “anti-business” when you consider that it’s a type of regulation in any form. I share the same idle curiosity because I’ve followed the EFF for years too, but the more I think about it: did they ever stand a chance with Republicans?

It also seems like big tech is aging into or adopting a kind of partisanship. These companies are so unfathomably large it’s almost difficult to look at their market impact as positive. Mind you, I’m not trying to make a particular case here. I’m only espousing a general attitude. The share of the S&P 500 that they collectively occupy alone is looking increasingly concerning.

Re: Mad at Meta? Don't Let Them Collect and Monetize Your Personal Data

#40

Post by smcin »

redleader55 wrote: post #10

I find it hilarious that the article starts with "are you mad at Meta for trying to appease the guy at the head of federal government" and ends with "we need strong federal privacy laws". It's the same federal government, you either trust it to legislate or you don't.

It's not just about the US or the current or previous US govt: there are billions more tech users in EU, Canada, Asia, Central & South America, Africa. They also have differing levels of electronic privacy. EFF has members in those countries too.

The next major accountability moment for measuring the use of tech will be the 2/2025 German federal election, Canadian and Australian elections, also Chile, Norway, SG. When combined with 2024 (US, UK, France, India, SK, [0]) should at least give a pretty rich readout on the state of digital media and privacy, also YT/FB/IG/TT/Twitter/Bluesky/Rednote

[0]: Pew Research: "Global Elections in 2024: What We Learned in a Year of Political Disruption" https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2024/12/11/global-electio...

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