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0 pointsocdtrekkie8y ago0 comments

What is the actual difference between Google/Facebook and "third parties"? Google actively uses information it gets about me in ways I don't approve of, and generally can't opt out of without stopping use of the services entirely.

Sure, Cambridge Analytica was using the data to influence an election, but Google is not shy about it's own social activism, and it's efforts to manipulate users into seeing it's view of the world.

Google's only protective of our data for selfish reasons: If you sell our data outright, the third party doesn't have need of you anymore, but if Google maintains a tight hold on the data, Google can continually sell the ability to make use of it (through Google's advertising services and the like) over, and over, and over.

The harm to me is the same either way.

0 pointsocdtrekkie8y ago0 comments

Sure, Cambridge Analytica was using the data to influence an election, but Google is not shy about it's own social activism, and it's efforts to manipulate users into seeing it's view of the world.

The harm to me is the same either way.

0 comments

4 comments · 1 top-level

thinkling8y ago· 3 in thread

Google keeps a tight hold on the data, whereas Facebook had APIs that allowed FB-apps to crawl segments of the FB graph. By doing that thousands of times, apps could export a large part of the data, and FB lost control over how the data could be used. By contrast, Google retains control.

I understand your point that we as end-users don't have any control over the way the data is used in either case. But I do think there is a material difference between the two scenarios.

ocdtrekkieOP8y ago

I just don't see why "Google retaining control" is a positive, when Google is as hostile an actor as Cambridge Analytica. If companies are going to use data to sway public opinion and tailor advertising, how much does it really matter which company is doing it?

skybrian8y ago

This is sort of like saying all political parties are the same. We can and should make distinctions.

1 more reply

thinkling8y ago

Retaining control is a positive because it allows you to change your mind and change what's being done with the data--or for that matter for legislation to limit wat you may do with the data.

Once the data is out of your control, there is no longer any way to control what is done with it. Don't think that Cambridge Analytics are the only ones who did this and who have this data. Shutting down CA won't stop the exported FB data from being put to all sorts of uses.

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