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The U.S. Treasury is buying private app data to target and investigate people

theintercept.com

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Re: The U.S. Treasury is buying private app data to target and investigate people

#381

Post by gmadsen »

Jarwain wrote: post #372
gmadsen wrote: post #366

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd argue that it doesn't play that big of a role in the functioning of the government. Privacy abuse has been pretty non-partisan for decades. As Chomsky would say, the areas of intersection between the parties represent the institutional power outside the democratic process. For example, the American people do not have a choice in how to treat Snowden, he has been deemed a treasonous criminal of the state, regardle…

I don't disagree that privacy abuse for various goals, or some governmental policies (like the treatment of Snowden) are not beholden to public opinion. Although the counterargument might be the intensity of public opinion on the topic. My main argument is specifically around whether the US is veering towards the implementation of a social credit score (which I think would look like having ones credit score be impact…

fair point. I guess my counter argument to that is that it is very surprising how much public outrage can be controlled through lengthening time duration, media propaganda to fuel fear and anxiety.

the world is much different than it was 30 years ago. I'm sure many would be appalled by the lack of privacy and governmental overreach.

Also, in the current era, the division of the populace, to the point where many actively hate the other side and think they are evil, is the exact conditions where a social credit score could become palatable if you believed the other side would be affected more.

Just look at the current trend of cancel culture. Its not that far of a leap to make that government policy

Re: The U.S. Treasury is buying private app data to target and investigate people

#382

Post by aspenmayer »

artificialLimbs wrote: post #379
aspenmayer wrote: post #362

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seems like you’re not able to empathize with others. Way to completely miss the point.

I was under the impression we were discussing facts here, and not feelings.

We are discussing facts, not just your own personal circumstance. The fact that you are not in these situations does not discount the experiences of others to the contrary.

Re: The U.S. Treasury is buying private app data to target and investigate people

#383

Post by math_and_stuff »

user3939382 wrote: post #377
vel0city wrote: post #376

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Showing that they've accepted a few hundred thousand is far short of showing they've accepted millions . For the facts presented all we know was there were only three years these companies made any donations to the EFF. If I gave someone $1 today, $10 the next day, and $100 the day after, would you then assume at the end of the year I gave the person hundreds of millions of dollars? Clearly I'm increasing this by 10x…

Since you seem so invested in this here’s another source: https://thebaffler.com/salvos/all-effd-up-levine “ Over the past years, EFF has taken millions in funds from Google and Facebook via straight donations and controversial court payouts that many see as under-the-radar contributions. Hell, Google co-founder Sergey Brin’s foundation gave EFF at least $1.2 million.” You can argue with that guy about his sources to…

I went through every 990 from the Sergey Brin Family Foundation and see no donations to the EFF in any of them (from 2014-2019).

Happen to know of a source for Yasha's claim?

https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/472...

Re: The U.S. Treasury is buying private app data to target and investigate people

#384

Post by edgyquant »

FpUser wrote: post #374
edgyquant wrote: post #373

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Saying a website may have pro-Chinese users pushing a narrative is nowhere equivalent to the accusations of McCarthy which had the backing of the US government and the weight if the law behind them. That is why your comment comes off as dishonest.

Originally: "It really feels like there are a lot of people with strong Chinese interests" Now: "...website may have pro-Chinese users..." Progressing from "really feels" to "may have" is of course nice touch. As for McCarthy - government backing or not, the general attitude of labeling opponents as foreign agents puts you on the same wavelength. It is not me being dishonest here. Am I China government agent / sympat…

You are being purposefully dense. “Feels like” and “may have” do not have very different implications. In fact, I’m more convinced you’re being dishonest now than I was just based off of your McCarthy comment.

It also isn’t labeling opponents as foreign agents it is saying that people attempting to equate US credit score, which has to do with the ability to get loans and little else, to Chinas social credit system is fishy especially when accounts that come out in full to defend China are regularly linked to actual Chinese people.

It doesn’t mean everyone doing so is, and it isn’t anyone asking for these people to be arrested or charged, but it does mean that there are pro-Chinese users on most social media and anyone arguing other wise is suspect at least.

Re: The U.S. Treasury is buying private app data to target and investigate people

#385

Post by user3939382 »

math_and_stuff wrote: post #383
user3939382 wrote: post #377

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Since you seem so invested in this here’s another source: https://thebaffler.com/salvos/all-effd-up-levine “ Over the past years, EFF has taken millions in funds from Google and Facebook via straight donations and controversial court payouts that many see as under-the-radar contributions. Hell, Google co-founder Sergey Brin’s foundation gave EFF at least $1.2 million.” You can argue with that guy about his sources to…

I went through every 990 from the Sergey Brin Family Foundation and see no donations to the EFF in any of them (from 2014-2019). Happen to know of a source for Yasha's claim? https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/472...

I do not, although he might be willing to share it. I did, however, write an email to EFF requesting records that could shed some light on the full extent of their conflicts of interest. I'm not expecting them to reply with anything useful but I guess there's a chance.

Re: The U.S. Treasury is buying private app data to target and investigate people

#386

Post by FpUser »

edgyquant wrote: post #384
FpUser wrote: post #374

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Originally: "It really feels like there are a lot of people with strong Chinese interests" Now: "...website may have pro-Chinese users..." Progressing from "really feels" to "may have" is of course nice touch. As for McCarthy - government backing or not, the general attitude of labeling opponents as foreign agents puts you on the same wavelength. It is not me being dishonest here. Am I China government agent / sympat…

You are being purposefully dense. “Feels like” and “may have” do not have very different implications. In fact, I’m more convinced you’re being dishonest now than I was just based off of your McCarthy comment. It also isn’t labeling opponents as foreign agents it is saying that people attempting to equate US credit score, which has to do with the ability to get loans and little else, to Chinas social credit system is…

>"I’m more convinced you’re being dishonest now than"

Be my guest.

>"and it isn’t anyone asking for these people to be arrested or charged"

How long before you do?

>"It also isn’t labeling opponents as foreign agents"

I’m more convinced you’re being weasel.

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