Based on previous behaviour I've got zero faith that any regulations will stop these bastards from taking the piss. Fines are just a cost of doing business and they're well versed in playing the legal system, dragging out proceedings for indefinite periods of time if necessary. The only way around it is for individuals to take privacy into their own hands. I'm talking adblockers, network level filtration, VPNs and burner credit cards. If you're not already having "the talk" with your family every year (especially with those less technically literate) you really should.
Most people don’t care. They don’t care if Amazon, Facebook, and Google know what they are doing online. They opt in to tracking by joining loyalty programs to save a few bucks. Privacy is just not a concern most people have.
>They don’t care if Amazon, Facebook, and Google know what they are doing online. They opt in to tracking by joining loyalty programs to save a few bucks. Privacy is just not a concern most people have.
I disagree. Most people have no idea what's going on behind the curtain.
Not based on scientific evidence, but we can infer this from several facts:
- The massive user bases of social media platforms. If most people cared, or were even aware of what's going on, they would choose not to consent to give up their personal data in exchange of using the service. Yet clearly they value the service over their privacy.
- Blind acceptance of cookie consent forms. Even with all the publicity around cookies and tracking on the web, if you've ever shoulder surfed a non-technical person, you'd notice that they blindly dismiss any consent forms by accepting the terms. There's a reason why most websites use dark design patterns on these: they work.
- Anecdata: if you've ever tried educating a social media user about privacy concerns, you'd be familiar with several dismissals: "I just log in occasionally for <minor use case>", the popular "I have nothing to hide", and flat out "I don't care". I've heard these both from non-technical and educated, smart and technically literate people. After many years of making an effort here, I've yet to convince a single person to change their habits, let alone abandon these services, and I'm still perceived as a radical technophobe.
So most people seem to "care", but apparently not enough to change their usage habits, or they feel powerless and lack the technical skills to protect themselves. So it could be a matter of education after all, but _most_ of the people I've talked about this, stop me much earlier than we get to the point of discussing what they can do about it.
They "opt in" the same way they "agree" to 30 pages of terms and conditions. The concept of "consent" used here is totally unrealistic because it is based on perfect knowledge and infinite time on the side of the consumer, or alternatively, the idea that a consumer must invest lots of money for an expert just to understand what they consent to.
Regulations (and consumer protection groups) are actually the right way to deal with this because it reduces the redundantly wasted time for dealing with such nonsense.
