Who would you rather have spying on you? Govt. or Mktg.?

[IbnMardhiyah]

Okay so at work me and one of my colleagues were having this big argument about all the shizz that's wrong with the world today, and the topic of Facebook's Beacon app. came up, and baout how information has become such a valuable commodity to various entities, all for various reasons.

He said he didn't mind advertisers and marketers knowing the specifics of his buying habits, what he was searching for on online stores, etc. because he really believed it would help him make better purchases. But he said he sure as hell didn't want Big Brother looking over his shoulder all the time because it would lead to severely curtailed civil liberties, eventually. And the ironic thing is, this guy was in the Army for four years, as a regular grunt and as a drill sgt.

I said I personally didn't mind the government keeping track of my whereabouts as long as they stay outta my face. If, ostensibly, they're doing it for security and stability, then I don't mind - the government is just doing their job. But I don't want stupid advertisers and marketers tracking my purchasing habits because its annoying - i.e. get your grimy hands outta my pockets and off my money. And the ironic thing is, I've been in sales & marketing for the past five years and more.

By the end of the day, the two of us were at a stalemate - neither of us could figure out whch was really worse - having the Govt. snooping on you or the Advertisers?

Aright, lemme hear it - which one would you rather put up with [and not necessarily choose or be comfortable with] ?

[Jamroll]

I think neither of them should be allowed to spy on us. It's just another control on society, man. Fight the Power!!!

[MossadConspiracy]

if you make the assumption that the government is going to spy on people in a legal manner (obtaining court orders and warrants and so on), and the marketting firms will also do what they do within the confines of privacy laws and so on.. then both arent so bad. I'd probably agree with you that the marketting side would be more annoying in that situation because i wouldnt even know that the government was spying on me while advertising is ubiquitous

If you consider the fact that in the long-term, laws may get broken or changed, then spying by the government is much worse and more dangerous. Spying by advertisers can only become truly dangerous if they are turning over their data to the government

[IbnMardhiyah]

Originally Posted by MossadConspiracy

Spying by advertisers can only become truly dangerous if they are turning over their data to the government

Or having massive data / private consumer information leaks as has become the trend in the past few years.

[MossadConspiracy]

thats true

[Jamroll]

Another factor to consider is that we're living in almost a corporatocracy system, where the lines between business and government are getting more and more blurred by the day.