Patrick LeavySep 25, 2024

I sometimes think that no one cares about online privacy, which makes me really sad, then I read this from @pluralistic - good to know!
https://pluralistic.net/2024/08/07/revealed-preferences/#extinguish-v-improve

So maybe people DO care, but just feel like they can't do much about it?

#surveillancecapitalism #dataprivacy #datarape #tracking

Pluralistic: The Google antitrust remedy should extinguish surveillance, not democratize it (07 Aug 2024) – Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow

Show threadaxbySep 25, 2024

@patrickleavy @pluralistic I enjoyed this article, and I didn't know this and found it interesting:

> ... the advertising industry has been repeating since the days when it was waging a massive campaign against the TV remote on the grounds that people would "steal" TV by changing the channel when the ads came on.

I'm not very familiar with life before cable TV, but it seems especially offensive since cable TV is both paid and has a ton of ads. I hope this was at least before paid TV...

Show threadthe hatterSep 25, 2024
@axby @patrickleavy @pluralistic Some people seem to think if something has adverts, that entirely covers any and all costs. That has never been true, newspapers and magazines had adverts almost since their inception and still had a cover price. Movies in cinemas, on video and still on disk are pay-for yet with adverts. And yes, many TV services cost, but offset some with adverts. The internet once again learned you can't fund content with an acceptable amount of adverts.
Show threadKrupo

@hatter @axby @patrickleavy @pluralistic different POV: if you're paying a cover charge, especially for a DVD when we used to buy them, anything with an ad on it is an insult.

It's like when a restaurant has ads in its washroom. Like, really. You won't survive without this ancillary revenue? Or are you just an extra source of profit?

Sep 26, 2024 at 4:35amWeb
Show threadPatrick LeavySep 26, 2024

@krupo @hatter @axby @pluralistic yes that's how things were and it makes sense.

But now that the surveillance business model is there, I think it's just too easy, too tempting... And if the public appears not to care then why wouldn't you tap into it for some extra revenue?

Hence the need for regulations; but I fear that the governments are too in love with the easy data - can the #police and security services even remember how to do their jobs without it?

Show threadthe hatterSep 26, 2024
@krupo @axby @patrickleavy @pluralistic You seem to be forgetting - when you bought a DVD, popped it in the player, after the piracy warning, what did it play ? Adverts. Not for random consumer goods, generally, but adverts nonetheless. Sure you could generally skip them, and if you ripped the disk you are very likely to not waste your disk space storing them, but they were there, front and centre, officially placed for viewing before you get to the main event.
Show threadKrupoSep 26, 2024

@hatter @axby @patrickleavy @pluralistic no I do recall, I just didn't phrase that well: I recall those adverts on *certain* discs and was gravely insulted by them.

I would generally stick to purchasing media that didn't indulge in that shabby abuse of the consumer.