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Covert web-to-app tracking via localhost on Android (341 comments):
"Localhost tracking" explained. It could cost Meta €32B
31–40 of 286 posts
Re: "Localhost tracking" explained. It could cost Meta €32B
#32This story got kicked out of front page quite suddenly, not sure how/why. Lots of points and comments.
Re: "Localhost tracking" explained. It could cost Meta €32B
#33Earlier quoted context omitted.
The EU doesn’t play around in this realm. 1.2 billion fine for an earlier incident: https://www.edpb.europa.eu/news/news/2023/12-billion-euro-fi...
1.2B is less than 1% of Meta's revenue in FY2024. Maximum fines for infractions like these should exist on a sliding scale, as some percentage of prior revenue.
Something that you can sensibly express as a fraction of the revenue of Meta is significant though.
It must be low enough that Meta never seriously considers to pull out of Europe.
Re: "Localhost tracking" explained. It could cost Meta €32B
#34Every story like this has me thinking about two things: 1. Companies have no soul. They are, by design, just chasing revenue. Everything else is just a risk to be factored. 2. There are real humans at these companies who choose to take part in the business and design and engineering, etc. I don’t think these humans have no soul (though some won’t), and I don’t think they’re stupid (though some are). I think it’s just…
I agree except perhaps an over generalization.
Some companies do have soul, and some pockets within big companies do. Patagonia, of course but even some big companies like Unilever are surprisingly soulful. They’re the exception maybe, but it’s not like companies have to be amoral.
In tech, there used to be a ton of borderline hippy companies, including Apple and Google. There are probably smaller ones now, but growth and pressure and wealth does seem to squeeze the soul out of places.
Re: "Localhost tracking" explained. It could cost Meta €32B
#35Every story like this has me thinking about two things: 1. Companies have no soul. They are, by design, just chasing revenue. Everything else is just a risk to be factored. 2. There are real humans at these companies who choose to take part in the business and design and engineering, etc. I don’t think these humans have no soul (though some won’t), and I don’t think they’re stupid (though some are). I think it’s just…
Never underestimate the evil a human can perpetuate in the name of a paycheck.
If that paycheck comes from religion, that salaryman will willfully incorporate evil into their everyday behavior, thinking they are doing evil for gawd. We've got a civilization of short sighted idiots.
Re: "Localhost tracking" explained. It could cost Meta €32B
#36Earlier quoted context omitted.
1.2B is less than 1% of Meta's revenue in FY2024. Maximum fines for infractions like these should exist on a sliding scale, as some percentage of prior revenue.
Something that you can sensibly express as a fraction of the revenue of Meta is significant though. It must be low enough that Meta never seriously considers to pull out of Europe.
> It must be low enough that Meta never seriously considers to pull out of Europe.
Why? Threathening is one thing, actually leaving one of the largest markets is something different. Also, not much of value would be lost.
> Something that you can sensibly express as a fraction of the revenue of Meta is significant though.
Also, if the percentage is low, it just becomes the "cost of doing business" and not a fine that would actually make them rethink and not do stuff like that again.
Re: "Localhost tracking" explained. It could cost Meta €32B
#37Every story like this has me thinking about two things: 1. Companies have no soul. They are, by design, just chasing revenue. Everything else is just a risk to be factored. 2. There are real humans at these companies who choose to take part in the business and design and engineering, etc. I don’t think these humans have no soul (though some won’t), and I don’t think they’re stupid (though some are). I think it’s just…
> I think it’s just very, very easy to create a system of people collectively doing evil things where no one person carries the burden of evil individually enough to really feel sick enough with what they’re contributing to. Which is why I don't think punishing just the company itself is enough. The engineers, designers, PM's that implemented this should also receive punishment, sufficient enough to make anyone think…
Definitely a good way to drive talent overseas. Get the low level people to assume all of the risk with none of the upsides; ask recent grades and junior people to do E2E ethical analysis on every project in addition to their 60 hour/week job, give the truly evil people convenient, lower-level scapegoats.
Re: "Localhost tracking" explained. It could cost Meta €32B
#38This story got kicked out of front page quite suddenly, not sure how/why. Lots of points and comments.
Yeah, would be interested to know why exactly
EDIT: Ok probably because it basically is a repost. I just haven't seen it 6 days ago.
Re: "Localhost tracking" explained. It could cost Meta €32B
#39I'm just confused why Meta needed to do this. Isn't fingerprinting good enough to not risk building this? All I can think is they use something like this to prove out their other tracking tech is working (this is the test set effectively). It is obvious that they really have several of these types of tracking technologies so that if one gets found out/patched they can switch it off and say 'look we stopped' all while still tracking with impunity. It just seems dumb that they would keep something this blatant in use.
Re: "Localhost tracking" explained. It could cost Meta €32B
#40Every story like this has me thinking about two things: 1. Companies have no soul. They are, by design, just chasing revenue. Everything else is just a risk to be factored. 2. There are real humans at these companies who choose to take part in the business and design and engineering, etc. I don’t think these humans have no soul (though some won’t), and I don’t think they’re stupid (though some are). I think it’s just…
> I think it’s just very, very easy to create a system of people collectively doing evil things where no one person carries the burden of evil individually enough to really feel sick enough with what they’re contributing to. Which is why I don't think punishing just the company itself is enough. The engineers, designers, PM's that implemented this should also receive punishment, sufficient enough to make anyone think…
LLC - Limited liability company
GmbH - Society with limited liability (german, translated)
This liability shield is by design.