Companies that obtain and sell your user information should have to pay you royalties. Agree or disagree?

K3zi4@lemmy.world to Ask Lemmy@lemmy.world – 517 points –

Privacy concerns are a very popular and valid talking point on Lemmy, so I would like to gather your thoughts and opinions on this. (Apologies if it's already been discussed!)

Would you support this? Would it work or even be viable? (If it could somehow overcome the rabid resistance from these big companies). What are your thoughts?

Personally, I'm getting more and more agitated at the state of this late stage global capitalism, where companies have the gall to ask you to pay or subscribe to their products, while they already make money from you for selling your data. It's been an issue for a long time now, but seems to really be ramping up.

90

You are viewing a single comment

To start with, an ISP. Most of them collect user data. Many services, such as banking, are unavailable or restricted over VPN (assuming you find one that doesn't also collect your data).

Next, a smartphone. You're limited to iOS or android, unless you have the option to root your device (which is a hassle), and both are basically loaded with spyware.

Your debit/credit card. Many providers will collect and monetize data regarding your purchases.

Your car (if newer than about 2010) or your public transit provider.

Need I go on? Try living without just one of these things.

I'm talking about deleting the FREE Facebook app from your phone and you're talking about PAID ISPs. You're not wrong but you've changed the conversation to ignore my point...

Company: Sure thing! It’s free but we’re going to take your data and sell it.
Consumer: Okay!
Start by deleting the apps from your phone in favor of the web version. Make sure to decline allowing websites and services to track your usage. It’s not perfect, but it’s a start.

How is deleting FREE apps from your phone and declining to allow websites to track you not a good start and how would this handicap your day-to-day life? My point is that if you're suing something for free, you are the product. This needs to be at the forefront of people's minds and they need to be made aware of the ramifications of choosing to use these FREE services.

Granted, I should have been more clear and said "Don't use FREE things that sell your data".

Yeah - there's a lot to be concerned about. Hell yes there's a huge concern about a PAID service also harvesting your data.
Let's START by deleting apps off our phones because this is what we currently have the most control over and they're the one's harvesting the most kinds of data to sell to brokers.

How is deleting FREE apps from your phone and declining to allow websites to track you not a good start and how would this handicap your day-to-day life?

Okay, for an exact example. I have a work email via microsoft 365. Because I choose to not have the outlook app installed on any of my devices I do not get notified when I have unread mail.

Thus, I need to go through the abysmal web app login several times per day (because it automatically logs me out), and click through nagging pop ups imploring me to install the app in order to confirm whether I have any pending mail.

What privacy concerns are there with the Outlook app?

I don't know, I didn't read the entire 174 page privacy statement. In this case, I just assume that they exist and that I do not want their app installed on my phone, especially considering the permissions it wants.