Comments on: App economy – App tracking issues.

By: Colin

Colin — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 13:09:18 +0000

What web browsing, email and apps have in common is that the organiser of the abuse is the data harvester – Google, Facebook et al. In the UK jurisdiction, if those companies did in the real world what they do inline, they would be prosecuted.

There’s no case for having a different standard online.

By: RICHARD WINDSOR

RICHARD WINDSOR — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 08:47:27 +0000

OK I see you point here. Not only web browsing but app usage also…which is the vast majority f time spent these days….

I would view the postal issue a little differently. I agree that the recipients have not explicitly agreed to have their data scanned but who is ultimately responsible. Is it Google or the user who knew (or supposed to know) what happens to that data but then put it out there anyway. Could have used other email services that are paid to protect privacy. I would come down on the sender being responsible but agree its arguable both ways…

By: Colin

Colin — Fri, 04 Sep 2020 15:58:39 +0000

Your argument relies too much on web browsing.

Gmail is an online postal service and Google routinely copies and analyses the traffic for its own profit. In most countries it’s illegal to interfere with the privacy of the post, with pretty stiff penalties. Who supplied the computer or the postman’s bike or the letterbox is irrelevant.

Recipients of data copied in transit are not customers of Google. Which customer relationship is being abused is beside the point.

The marketing of Google, Facebook, et al is deceptive because it doesn’t openly describe the extent of the abuse across all of their “free” services. I agree that most people either don’t care about or don’t understand the value of their privacy and how its being abused. That doesn’t excuse the abuser any more than a pickpocket is excused by the fact a victim wasn’t alert enough.

There’s no reason why online privacy standards shouldn’t be modelled on real world standards. Privacy is privacy in any context.

By: RICHARD WINDSOR

RICHARD WINDSOR — Fri, 04 Sep 2020 09:26:00 +0000

I cant see how it is specious at all.
Apple users (you) are apple customers because you have paid Apple. That is not what is being debated here.

Facebook users are its product.
Google users are its product.
Evidence: Google and Facebook customer service is not user facing its advertiser facing.

I think many users are not as aware of this implicit bargain with Google and Facebook as you think. They are either more ignorant than you think or they dont care as much about privacy as Apple would have us believe. Its one of these two. Pick one.

By: Colin

Colin — Fri, 04 Sep 2020 09:15:59 +0000

“In fact, users are not customers, they are the product.”

This is a specious argument. Users are customers and their privacy should be respected online just as it should be in the real world.

Users are not stupid and will pay money for products and services that they value. Once the privacy invasion scandal is in the past, new products and services will appear to replace privacy invasive ones.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-l61NE0eqkw