Re:Apple's privacy labels show WhatsApp and Facebook Messeng...
by cwhiz on Friday January 08, 2021 @01:44PM
(#25688229)
Access to internet services is not some fundamental human right. No one HAS to use these services. You can live a perfectly fine life without FB, WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter, Google, etc. I don’t have accounts with any of these services. My life is better for it.
Moreover, paying for goods and services is how the economy works. Netflix does not have a free tier. Are they fucking over poor people?
Re:Apple's privacy labels show WhatsApp and Facebook Messeng...
by 4ggr0 on Monday January 11, 2021 @04:29AM
(#25726623)
1) It is not a fundamental right at this moment, but I think it should be in the following decades. More and more things are expected to work online, with offline alternatives existing. And you are mixing general internet access with individual platforms.
Sure, nobody has to use Twitter. There are situations where one is forced to use one of these platforms. And I know where you are coming from, the only account I have is from Google.
2) It's not wrong, not to have a free tier. It's not wrong to have paid plans. What I think is wrong, is defining that surveillance should be the default. Give me the option to disable analytics etc. completely. Tying this mechanic to money is wrong. You shouldn't have to pay to not be spied on.
It should just be default to not collect unnecessary data, whatever that may be, while being free. Maybe make paid plans with premium features. Everything else will just mean that Big Tech can spy and manipulate poor people, because they can't afford to pay for every service they (have) to use. We should stop tying privilege to money.
Maybe I'm being too dramatical, but that's what came to my mind after reading your suggestion.