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Sure, but that's the always-acknowledged reality. Either you're paying for the product, or you are the product.

> Either you're paying for the product, or you are the product.

Where would you place an app like Signal?

Will signal continue to be free if they have a billion users like WhatsApp? Who will fund the infrastructure and development?

I think reality is more along the lines of: you are the product or you're paying for the product and you're also the product.