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What reasons are there for being concerned about companies like google and meta etc collecting data and tracking me? (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 year ago by Mr_Dr_Oink@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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Please understandnim asking this question from a genuine place. I dont want the quora answer, i want the tech savvy, security expert minds of my fellow lemmings. If thats ok?

What happens to this data? What can/do they do with it? and why are so many people concerned about google tracking them?

Do i as an average user need to be concerned?

If so, What sorts of things can i do to avoid being tracked? Preferably without too much comprimise.

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[-] ValiantDust@feddit.de 17 points 1 year ago

To add to this: Many people shrug this off saying they don't have anything to hide. Even assuming that is true, they usually mean they don't have anything to hide right now from their current authorities. Ask yourself the question: Is there absolutely no form of government/regime you might want to hide something from? Are you absolutely certain these authorities might not get access to your data? Doesn't even have to be a possible future government in your own country, it could be in some other country you might want to visit. Or maybe some terrorist organisation who for some reason targets people like you. Is there really absolutely no one you would mind having access to all the data collected about you?

The thing is, the data isn't going to be uncollected again. The way things are drifting the number of countries not in some way endangered by antidemocratic movements is constantly decreasing. Call me paranoid but I just don't want to risk it.

[-] foggy@lemmy.world 10 points 1 year ago

Good counter to people saying they have nothing to hide is the guy that lost his apple or google acct because he sent a photo of his child's rash to his doctor and it got flagged as CSA.

You don't need to have anything to hide to get fucked over by a lack of privacy.

this post was submitted on 01 Nov 2023

173 points (94.4% liked)

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