There are tons of websites that have other revenue models. Subscriptions, referral models, etc.
Shouldn't people be able to choose what currency they want to pay for something in?
Shouldn't people be able to choose what currency they want to pay for something in?
Thats a very libertarian position statement and I understand it. But the EU is much less capitalist/libertarian than you are. Their parliament made the call that they don't want people paying for services with their personal data.
There's valid arguments on both sides here. Some arguments supporting the EU's stance:
- If online newspapers get paid in proportion to views, they make more money by writing divisive clickbait
- Privacy is a fundamental right; not a currency. Treating it as currency means only wealthy people will be free from spying, and that is borderline dystopian.
- Advertising on the internet worked just fine before everyone was tracked and monitored through every click. Don't annoy me with cookie notices. Just don't use cookies for tracking and we'll get along fine.
The EU's document is "Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European_Union"[0], which does grant privacy as one. That pretty clearly does make it a "fundamental right".
Note the US Constitution's Bill of Rights does not offer right-to-privacy (but the 4th provides protection from searches-and-seizures without probable cause, which really doesn't deal with "privacy", especially from non-governmental actors).
Perhaps parent should have said "fundamental right granted by the EU", but in this context it's pretty clear.
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charter_of_Fundamental_Rights_...
So 'choice' is already something that has failed in the free market. Bring on the privacy.
You only have to see the howling every time someone posts a subscription only newspaper link on HN to see how vehemently opposed people are to paying for stuff like news.