pwned! People worry about government profiling. Facebook is already profiling its users. FB uses a person’s online AND offline data (purchased from data brokers). Note online means ALL online activity not just FB usage!
As Facebook grows, so will its ownership of the social graph and our digital selves. Systemic risk is highest in centralized systems. Extrapolating trends, I consider it possible, if not probable, that Facebook will become a systemic risk center for free society. The argument goes:
- Facebook engages in comprehensive and growing data collection on its billions of users
- This data allows for exponentially greater manipulation of human beings and their realities than ever seen before
- Facebook is building towards human simulation and ownership
- Extrapolating trends, Facebook will create unprecedented centralization of power and influence in the hands of an individual
- Without a change of course, we are enabling a structural threat to free society, and potentially worse
Zuckerberg, The Man
Are we willing to trust one man with:
- The largest share of wealth on the planet?
- The biggest trove of private data ever assembled?
- The greatest control over information flow ever seen?
- The biggest psychological research facility in history?
- The most significant influence machine ever?
- All five?
Zuckerberg is human. As the saying goes, “power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely”. Don’t forget this is the man who gave us this gem:
Zuck: Yeah so if you ever need info about anyone at Harvard Zuck: Just ask Zuck: I have over 4,000 emails, pictures, addresses, SNS [Redacted Friend’s Name]: What? How’d you manage that one? Zuck: People just submitted it. Zuck: I don’t know why. Zuck: They “trust me” Zuck: Dumb fucks
Source: news.ycombinator.com