Is it ethical to give a product away for free in order to profit off ever-increasing surveillance?
Would it be fair to proposal an ethical position of something like "if you won't offer your product in a way that uses my information ethically than I have the right to safeguard my information"? Yes, we could all refuse to use facebook, and only use an ethical (even possibly paid!) alternative, but in the race-to-the-bottom everyone-else-ruins-it-for-everyone-else real-world we live in, maybe there is a lot more gray area than you are proposing.
In my view the "ever-increasing" aspect of FB's usage of data is particularly relevant in this case. I deleted my account because I'm aware of it. It's not easy to make everyone else aware of it, or understand the full implications, though. And, of course, FB tracks even those of us who don't have accounts.
Is it ethical to consume without giving anything back?
Nobody is entitled to free services over the internet. If you aren't paying with money then expect to be paying with something else. The solution to invasive encroachment of personal data is GDPR-like regulation, not attacking the entities spending money to run servers and pay for development. If they are able to operate in a permissive environment that won't implement regulations then the blame rests with lazy regulators.
You can't just say something is unethical, you need to provide a rationale for why people are ethically obligated to preserve a company's revenue stream in their usage of its product. I don't think a consumer owes Facebook any responsibility in terms of protecting its revenue.
Facebook is unethical, I never consented to the shadow profile I'm sure they keep on me. (since I'm an antisocial snob and have never used their offerings).
They have acquired a few products I have used (oculus for one) and that fact makes it even more irritating, as far as I'm concerned the sooner their business model is destroyed the better off the world will be.
Facebook intentionally abuses its captive audience. Reducing the profit they extract from this harm is fully justified. Their combined abuses (not just invasive tracking) should hurt their revenue stream enough to thoroughly reform or break them.
Unlike buying a product, like a banana, or using a service, like your barber, when you “use” facebook, YOU are the product. You are being sold to companies buying adds.
Facebook gave up heing the victim when they removed the optional bit. Once you force yourself into the social graph and 'become the village square' (their own words) then you are no longer entitled to anything.
majormajor|3 years ago
Would it be fair to proposal an ethical position of something like "if you won't offer your product in a way that uses my information ethically than I have the right to safeguard my information"? Yes, we could all refuse to use facebook, and only use an ethical (even possibly paid!) alternative, but in the race-to-the-bottom everyone-else-ruins-it-for-everyone-else real-world we live in, maybe there is a lot more gray area than you are proposing.
In my view the "ever-increasing" aspect of FB's usage of data is particularly relevant in this case. I deleted my account because I'm aware of it. It's not easy to make everyone else aware of it, or understand the full implications, though. And, of course, FB tracks even those of us who don't have accounts.
kevin_thibedeau|3 years ago
Nobody is entitled to free services over the internet. If you aren't paying with money then expect to be paying with something else. The solution to invasive encroachment of personal data is GDPR-like regulation, not attacking the entities spending money to run servers and pay for development. If they are able to operate in a permissive environment that won't implement regulations then the blame rests with lazy regulators.
kareemsabri|3 years ago
xwdv|3 years ago
[deleted]
Nextgrid|3 years ago
StillBored|3 years ago
They have acquired a few products I have used (oculus for one) and that fact makes it even more irritating, as far as I'm concerned the sooner their business model is destroyed the better off the world will be.
Calavar|3 years ago
arthurcolle|3 years ago
crest|3 years ago
aporetics|3 years ago
Unlike buying a product, like a banana, or using a service, like your barber, when you “use” facebook, YOU are the product. You are being sold to companies buying adds.
So what is ethical?
unknown|3 years ago
[deleted]
Schroedingersat|3 years ago