Your comment makes little sense to me on many levels, but I strongly object to your assertion that "people have chosen by a HUGE MARGIN to join these systems". Oracle can not have possibly amassed consent from 5 billion individuals to mine data on them. People have certainly not opted-in for this kind of surveillance in exchange for "product diversity" or "lower prices." These objectionable consumer surveillance databases are being amassed and maintained regardless of whether they actually benefit the people in them or not.
Oracle can not have possibly amassed consent from 5 billion individuals to mine data on them
I would actually claim that not only did they consent, they did so in a legally binding way through the terms of service (that they didn't read).
I'm as guilty as everyone else here, but the fact is there are options to keep yourself out of these systems if you want to - nobody is forcing you to use a credit card or be on the internet.
Does it mean you will miss out on things that make life easier, faster, healthier, cheaper etc..? YES it does!
That is entirely my point though. We are trading convenience and consumption for privacy willingly.
> I would actually claim that not only did they consent, they did so in a legally binding way through the terms of service (that they didn't read).
Those 5 billion people don't all come from the same jurisdiction.
Under GDPR, no consent for trading your data can come through an implicit, coerced action like consenting to terms of services.
Under German law, clauses of terms of services are invalid if they aren't what a reasonable consumer would expect.
> I'm as guilty as everyone else here, but the fact is there are options to keep yourself out of these systems if you want to - nobody is forcing you to use a credit card or be on the internet.
I'd argue that having Internet access is quickly approaching the status of a human right (or should be), and buying things only is also getting increasingly common.
Thing is, there doesn't have to be this amount of data collection just to browse the Internet and buy things only.
I'm also not sure if lots of companies having dossiers on me is actually improving my experience anywhere. It seems likely they'll just use it sell me crap that I don't really want or need, simply by them being very persuasive and me having limited will power.
I was in a cafe the other day. They had some QR code based ordering system. After we'd chosen what to order, the system asked for my phone number. Stupidly I entered my number correctly. I can't prove that they sold my data, but I've gotten about 3-4 spam texts via imessage since I was in the cafe.
> Does it mean you will miss out on things that make life easier, faster, healthier, cheaper etc..? YES it does!
I don't think having my data passed around between multinationals is ethical, necessary or value adding in any way. At least not value adding to me! The cafe experience was totally fine when I ordered via a menu. And it works fine via our phones without the part where my privacy data gets sold to soulless companies for a few pennies.
Honestly I think the EU has the right of it in banning this stuff outright. Its disgusting, non consensual and sociopathic. Everyone involved should be ashamed of yourselves.
