Qs Laptop
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
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- Mar 11, 2018
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What's the Big Deal if Your Cell Phone or Computer Learns Stuff About You?
Over on the "Reliance on Cell Phones" thread many people were lamenting the idea of cell phones gathering information on them and creating a profile for various purposes. Seems there are people that zealously guard against Google, Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, individual web sites, GMail, Outlook, Wal-Mart, Amazon, etc. learning anything about them.
Unless a person is doing something illegal or immoral, what is it about these entities knowing your approximate age, some of your buying habits, your zip code, the car you drive, etc. that gets people's knickers twisted?
For example, I did a Google search on 65" TV's recently. Yes, in the next couple of days I'm seeing ads for TV's. I searched for computer power supplies and the next day I'm seeing ads for power supplies.
I've noticed a lot of people on ER.org have a visceral response to the idea that someone is gathering information on them. What could some entity do with this information that is so alarming? Surely it can't be target advertising.
I'd really like concrete examples of harmful things that can result if Google or Microsoft knows your demographics. This stuff can be found out about you even if you don't have Facebook or Gmail. It might take a while longer to gather it up but the info is out there.
Hackers getting into your computer or cell phone DOES NOT fall into this category and should not be given as an example you may list.
Over on the "Reliance on Cell Phones" thread many people were lamenting the idea of cell phones gathering information on them and creating a profile for various purposes. Seems there are people that zealously guard against Google, Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, individual web sites, GMail, Outlook, Wal-Mart, Amazon, etc. learning anything about them.
Unless a person is doing something illegal or immoral, what is it about these entities knowing your approximate age, some of your buying habits, your zip code, the car you drive, etc. that gets people's knickers twisted?
For example, I did a Google search on 65" TV's recently. Yes, in the next couple of days I'm seeing ads for TV's. I searched for computer power supplies and the next day I'm seeing ads for power supplies.
I've noticed a lot of people on ER.org have a visceral response to the idea that someone is gathering information on them. What could some entity do with this information that is so alarming? Surely it can't be target advertising.
I'd really like concrete examples of harmful things that can result if Google or Microsoft knows your demographics. This stuff can be found out about you even if you don't have Facebook or Gmail. It might take a while longer to gather it up but the info is out there.
Hackers getting into your computer or cell phone DOES NOT fall into this category and should not be given as an example you may list.
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