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A comment on Never Mind the NSA, What About Google and Facebook?. Parent comment

Re:Never Mind the NSA, What About Google and Facebook? by ForHackernews on Thursday June 11, 2015 @11:47PM (#9703919)
> Government could use the data for control, to maintain power over the people

So could corporations. If they were so inclined, Google could easily blackmail almost anyone. Your only recourse would be going to law enforcement and a messy public trial at which the embarrassing secrets they were using to blackmail you would be revealed.

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Re:Never Mind the NSA, What About Google and Facebook? by grrowl on Friday June 12, 2015 @12:55AM (#9704132)
I would rather be strongarmed by a corporation and have recourse, than be strongarmed by a government, legally authorised to do so by a secret court which overrules all other courts, or told to change my actions and never tell anyone why under punishment of imprisonment.

If Google's a dick, I can post on Facebook or Tumblr about how Google's being a dick. If my government is a dick, my life as I know it is over.

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Re:Never Mind the NSA, What About Google and Facebook? by fwn on Friday June 12, 2015 @03:42AM (#9704523)
If they'd tried to blackmail me, I'd try to blackmail them with them trying to blackmail me.

Since I'm poor, there is more to gain on my side. I'd be excellent. ;)

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