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Re:Fake “like” factories – how we reverse engineered faceboo... by piokoch on Monday December 30, 2019 @10:24AM (#21913875)
Frankly I don't understand this kind of "calls to action" directed to company X employeese.

First of all, it is not like FB employees are pushing people into gas chambers in Dachau, FB usage is not obligatory, what I keep telling everyone who complains about FB censorship or privacy abuse - I don't have FB account because of that.

In the same way we might ask to step out Coca Cola employees (say, delivery truck drivers), because drinking Coke is bad for ones health. Or HSBC employees because HSBC was laundering narco cartels money? Or John Deere employees because company forbids farmers to modify tractor software?

All of those practices are immoral and bad, but why chase the weakest, whose income, ability to pay rent, etc. depends on the employer? Why not target those, who are really responsible for that what is happening and who make huge money thanks to that?

I would say it makes much more sense to vote with our money, avoid services and products from companies we consider immoral.

Publicly discourage people from using such services and products, publicly stand against CEOs, shareholders of those companies, spread the knowledge about their personal responsibility for such kind of behavior - this is not that difficult and actually can make a difference. Imagine PR outcome of a conference that would invite Mark Zuckerberg, but no one else would want to attend it? Mark shows up on, say, TED, and all the people leave the room during his talk? In the media-driven World surely this would become "viral" and even Mark with all his money couldn't ignore that easily.

Re:Fake “like” factories – how we reverse engineered faceboo... by JohnFen on Monday December 30, 2019 @11:26AM (#21914418)
> privacy abuse - I don't have FB account because of that.

This is just the obligatory reminder than not having a FB account does not stop FB from spying on you.

Re:Fake “like” factories – how we reverse engineered faceboo... by hydgv on Monday December 30, 2019 @10:33AM (#21913959)
>FB usage is not obligatory, what I keep telling everyone who complains about FB censorship or privacy abuse - I don't have FB account because of that.

Wow are you saying that people should take responsibility for their actions and should let others choose freely what to do?

Re:Fake “like” factories – how we reverse engineered faceboo... by jen20 on Tuesday December 31, 2019 @05:51AM (#21920174)
Shadow profiles, anyone? The idea that Facebook does not attempt to spy on former or non-users is laughable.
Re:Fake “like” factories – how we reverse engineered faceboo... by asdf21 on Monday December 30, 2019 @03:45PM (#21916549)
Sounds like privilege.

/s

Re:Fake “like” factories – how we reverse engineered faceboo... by KaiserPro on Monday December 30, 2019 @11:57AM (#21914738)
> Frankly I don't understand this kind of "calls to action" directed to company X employeese.

Because if you make enough noise, and affect the share price enough, stuff changes.

Also, A lot of developers seem to think that their actions have no consequences. This includes people at facebook.

When it is demonstrated that something you have designed, or your team has designed its a massive pile of shit, in a very public way, it leaves a mark. Hopefully for the better.

Having been through something similar, It certainly changed the way I make prototypes. Security and anonymity comes first now, not last.

Re:Fake “like” factories – how we reverse engineered faceboo... by sorokod on Monday December 30, 2019 @11:57AM (#21914737)
>First of all, it is not like FB employees are pushing people into gas chambers in Dachau,

WTF ?

> why chase the weakest, whose income, ability to pay rent, etc. depends on the employer?

I assume you are not talking about FB employees which is a shame because it would be nice to see the same employees take some responsibility for the code they produce.

Re:Fake “like” factories – how we reverse engineered faceboo... by wolco on Monday December 30, 2019 @01:55PM (#21915739)
A programmer takes responsibility for their work but they are not responsible for what you think they are.

A programmer doesn't get to determine what the company is building unless it is so small and even then it is rare.

Target product managers.

Re:Fake “like” factories – how we reverse engineered faceboo... by JohnFen on Monday December 30, 2019 @06:25PM (#21917615)
> A programmer doesn't get to determine what the company is building

But a programmer does get to determine whether or not they'll continue to work on what the company is building. Just saying...

Re:Fake “like” factories – how we reverse engineered faceboo... by Joeri on Monday December 30, 2019 @10:59AM (#21914183)
Why not do both? Shame the company and shame the users.
Re:Fake “like” factories – how we reverse engineered faceboo... by egypturnash on Monday December 30, 2019 @09:00PM (#21918398)
“I was only following orders.”
Re:Fake “like” factories – how we reverse engineered faceboo... by mr__y on Monday December 30, 2019 @07:08PM (#21917850)
>First of all, it is not like FB employees are pushing people into gas chambers in Dachau

I laughed at this way louder than I'm willing to admit

Re:Fake “like” factories – how we reverse engineered faceboo... by blueboo on Monday December 30, 2019 @12:29PM (#21915043)
Good lord, I know tech workers have a reputation for abhorring responsibility, but this defense of amorality is breathtaking.

Don’t bother the engineers...no, like this post so people will walk out of Zuck’s TED talk. Right out of the Onion!