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Re:FBI recommends using an ad blocker (2022) by RajT88 on Sunday September 08, 2024 @10:58PM (#41485090)
Yeah, I knew that but with enough effort you can block that too.

I was being precise.

Re:FBI recommends using an ad blocker (2022) by nobody9999 on Sunday September 08, 2024 @11:21PM (#41485164)
>Yeah, I knew that but with enough effort you can block that too.

Can you? As of 2021, there were more than 500 registered data brokers in the US alone.

And those brokers don't just use your Facebook profile (shadow or otherwise). Rather they source data from thousands of retailers, insurance companies, credit "rating" agencies, banks, etc., etc., etc.

How exactly do you (because I certainly don't know how to do so) keep hundreds of discrete businesses from collecting data on you? Do you squat in a lean-to on private land not owned by you? Do you have a phone purchased by you (even with cash, most retailers have surveillance cameras)? Do you own a car? Is it registered? Do you not live in New Hampshire (the only state which doesn't require auto insurance)? Do you have a credit card in your name? Do you have any professional certifications? Are you married? Divorced? Pay taxes?

If you really think you can block the level of tracking that goes on, you're either delusional or have a multi-billion dollar set of skills/ideas. Which might it be, do you think?

Re:FBI recommends using an ad blocker (2022) by RajT88 on Sunday September 08, 2024 @11:40PM (#41485248)
I was only speaking of Facebook off-site tracking.
Re:FBI recommends using an ad blocker (2022) by nobody9999 on Tuesday September 10, 2024 @02:00AM (#41497596)
>I was only speaking of Facebook off-site tracking.'

Fair enough.

And while it's not a bad thing, it's just a small part of the problem, as I was reminded a few minutes ago when I received an email about this class-action lawsuit[0].

To be clear, I'm not trying to bust your chops or be dismissive of your point of view. Rather, I'm just (through serendipitous receipt of notification of the lawsuit discussed in the linked article) providing an example that Meta's evil ways are just the tip of the iceberg.

[0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41497486