Life is not zero-sum. Just because big corporations gain, doesn't mean you have to lose.
And please, stop with the slavery metaphor. It's offensive. There are actual slaves in Africa that would love the serfdom of targeted ads.
And please, stop with the slavery metaphor. It's offensive. There are actual slaves in Africa that would love the serfdom of targeted ads.
Sure, it's not all rainbows and unicorns. But let's not weaken our arguments with ludicrous hyperbole.
The threats of violence and detention against your will by nation states are real, and having Google and other tech companies being complicit is scary. Why are they complicit? Because of the same threats of violence.
We are slaves. Maybe not whipped, maybe not starved, but threatened, poisoned and our children's children are in debt slavery because of the rainbows and unicorns we think is just around the corner if we borrow a little bit more. And by the sweat of their brow will we pay for the NSA / GCHQ, the wars and such like.
On the other hand: a private company offers you a free service which if you may voluntarily opt-in to. If you so choose, they will use to collect information of value to try and sell you stuff. You may then choose, or not, to engage with those advertisements. In many cases, there are trivial options to hinder or reduce this tracking, including options provided by the companies themselves.
It is certainly hyperbole, and succeeds only in (a) demeaning further those millions of people trapped in real slavery, and (b) weakening any arguments on the negative aspects of internet surveillance.