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I'm sure those 5 major companies called out in PRISM are all selling the data, and one of those companies runs advertisements claiming they keep things private and secure.

I'm no VIP, so its unlikely anyone would stumble across my name. However that typically can't be used as a defense for such a policy.

I suppose it can be used as a defense if you want to claim your device prioritizes privacy and security. Its not a valid defense, but profit doesn't really care about being logically sound.



I'm sure those 5 major companies called out in PRISM are all selling the data

Um, "selling"?

That's an, uh, interesting, characterization of what's likely going on.

I'm not sure companies have a lot of choice in what's going to happen to their data here in the US despite what they tell us. (In fact, I'd bet they don't have much of a choice what happens to their data in any country they do business in.) Maybe a few of the hardcore companies take it to court. But, OH! That's right! In the US we've got FISA courts for this kind of thing, so it's illegal for us to know anything about any of that either.

Oh well. Pity that I guess. Carry on citizens. Nothing to see here.

On a serious note, never put anything on the digital record that you would be unwilling to have entered as evidence against you in open court. Full stop. I don't care what assurances you get from companies about security, or privacy, or end to end encryption. You just shouldn't do it.

It helps to think of it this way, if it touches your phone or the internet in any way, it's part of the public record. No matter what app you were using. So be cognizant of that, it can come back to bite you 10 years later in ways you never would have imagined.


FWIW, also selling.

As an example, a company called Dataminr sells views of Twitter to a bunch of government entities. Those views include things like fires, flash mobs, explosions, riots, etc.


It's a loophole, the 4th amendment prohibits the government from seizing data, however the government can legally purchase data from a third party.


> It helps to think of it this way, if it touches your phone or the internet in any way, it's part of the public record. No matter what app you were using. So be cognizant of that, it can come back to bite you 10 years later in ways you never would have imagined.

Meh. If that's the case, why bother caring at all? Bring it on!




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