Red Badger
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Only a few hundred thousand people took the survey. Millions of others got their information exposed as a consequence. This includes enough information to infer political affiliation, sensitive lifestyle choices (being gay) etc ..
Those millions of people did not opt-in.
One example: Egypt has used social media postings to arrest LGBTQ citizens. Yes, it is naive to think even secure channels are really secure, but like I said: many people are only now waking up.
If it was only ads, nobody cares. We've created a panopticon surveillance society, and people are only now waking up to that reality.
Even those that do not want to participate because they see the dangers are sucked in.
This was what I meant to convey as OP (but missed the mark). I don't give a sh!t about targeted ads. I care very much about surrendering our privacy rights without a shot being fired. A group of very brilliant men saw fit to include it (privacy) in the Bill of Rights; and for very good cause. I believe the day will come when society realizes it gave away far more that it gained.
Secondary concern is the targeted misinformation exactly like that engaged in by FakeBook and it's affiliates. Sleazy business practice at best.