Correct, which is one of the big reasons why I do my best to avoid all data collection I can, even if I fundamentally trust the company doing the collecting.
"We don't sell your data" is a plainly worded claim, and is blatantly false if/when a company is sold. Companies should be required to say "We don't sell your data unless acquired" or "We don't sell your data now but might in the future".
Allowing consumers to make an informed choice is critical for properly functioning free markets, let's enforce this.
i.e. Encouraging everyone to protect themselves inadvertently slows down the fixing of the root problem?
I’m personally very torn on this subject. In smaller circles where I have relationships, it’s easy: publish and recommend the workaround protection. But in humanity at large I’d really like the underlying problem to get fixed rather sooner than later?
Personally, I don't feel that I have any right to tell others that they need to put themselves at risk in order to make the conditions right for accelerated change.
But I do agree that simply engaging in self-protection without also doing what you can to actually change the situation is ethically dubious.
It isn't rare for one company to buy another entirely so they can get the customer data.