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from the I-wonder-if-they-track-sales-of-tin-foil? dept.
http://www.cio.com/article/2977027/intel-reveals-big-datas-dirty-little-secret.html
The article is entitled "Intel reveals big data's dirty little secret" but I read it a little bit differently.
From the article: "Companies are spending billions on tools and engineering to analyse big data, though many are hampered by one little problem: they still don't know what to do with all the data they collect."
This means that, of all the egregious breaches of personal privacy that companies regularly perform (the Target-knows-you're-pregnant-when-your-parents-don't story comes to mind), they have still only scratched the surface of making sense of your information, and using it effectively. Which means that, as Big Data gets people who actually know what they're doing, the more frightening the possibilities become, which is probably only a matter of time.
How would you feel about getting a bunch of targeted spam from divorce lawyers because your wife/husband's personal details were in the big Ashley Madison data leak, before you even heard about it? What if you were the guy who got drunk and put a profile up one time after a big fight but never followed up on it? This is why I don't have a Facebook account.
Original Submission
(Score: 2) by Hyperturtle on Saturday August 29 2015, @09:12PM
I imagine a future where what you said was possible -- without the future we live in today.
I did not ever think that the CPU horsepower that fits in the palm of our hands -- or cloistered in server rooms or encased in a mainframe -- would require so much sacrifice. We give up so much to get what, webmail in return? To make it so we don't have to memorize a route? To be reminded when a friend's birthday is? To be recommended similar network cables to what I already purchased? How did we live before this time? Where are the miracles that were supposed to happen in exchange for my data? Why is my data being sold to people I actually decided that I did not want to do business with? How do I get my data out of your system prior to its transfer to your new owner that I do not want to do business with and made a point to using a competitor instead?
When I started exercising after seeing pictures of healthy looking people who were not me (it was in a magazine, I am sure), I bought a small spiral bound steno pad -- it was smaller than that. I wrote out the weights and the reps and the sets. I did not need to attach to the internet. I was able to see the weight loss and the muscle gain without having to sign a waiver indicating that my data will be shared with valued partners.
When one place I worked announced that our insurance would go up $150 each unless everyone wore a fitbit, so the goal was to get everyone to wear one and then demonize the holdouts... well. our insurance went up $150. (and it wasn't just me--about half of the company refused--no arguments designed to appeal to our passion and predjudices could encourage us to submit to such tracking. The fact that many of us travelled and we'd be visible on a map was not helpful to get us to save money--privacy has a price, and $150 seemed reasonable to pay).
As far as individuality, this all sounds like a character building experience, and I think I am quite the character as it is. I don't need to give away my most mundane and boring of secrets to help insure my individuality.
I think the argument you should be having is not with us, the consumer, but with those pushing this stuff on us. We have seen how badly abused things can be for a profit, and would like our personal details kept out of it.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday August 30 2015, @12:07AM
> When one place I worked announced that our insurance would go up $150 each unless everyone wore a fitbit,
You need to name that place. You can't just put that out there and not hold them up for public accountability.
(Score: 2) by Hyperturtle on Sunday August 30 2015, @06:02PM
oh... their word of mouth marketing has lost them numerous customers. I expect it will not be long the before need to plug their holes prior to their inevitable sink to the bottom. It will only be then that their management will get out of the boat they rock daily--but it'd only be to command the others to dig through the rock at the bottom while they all drown. Lack of work/lack of oxygen. Same thing.
They are having issues, and while I would not mind to see their demise, I wouldn't get satisfaction from it -- they have customers that will suffer with them as they sink. I don't expect them to actually get any better (small company, owner dictates what happens, no discussion, any critique is treated as a personal attack).
The owner and his VPs (37% of the company are "senior executive leadership team" members; there are no other executives nor even managers of which to be senior over) all value the advice in the book called The Secret. I think Trump or Oprah suggested it. That's how they find new customers, by willing the universe to them. They were quite surprised that the fitbit thing didn't quite work out... maybe they didn't wish it hard enough. They said they even had a meeting about it, and were surprised people would resist it. When asked why our opinions about such things were not solicited, we were suggested to start our own business if we want to provide advice on how to run one.
Considering the lack of there being much chance for true change from above, I can only hope they lose enough customers due to customers choosing to cease doing business or opting to not renew service contracts, rather than due to the company's questionable business practices and other behaviors.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 31 2015, @07:06AM
Whatevers dude. Nobody gives a fuck about your stories if they can't be connected to a real company. As far as every one else reading your post is concerned it is all a made up story. Instead of writing all that you could have spent the same time masturbating, felt better and not wasted anyone's time.