The Trouble with Facebook and Microsoft, Amazon and Google. But Not Apple. (Podcast)

Diji1 on 21/04/2019 - 11:32

Veteran Silicon Valley Research Analyst and one time mentor to the Zuck himself Roger McNamee explains to Sam Harris how most of the largest tech businesses - Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Amazon - escaped regulation to create a nightmare known as surveillance capitalism.

Amongst other things he explains how:

  • the business model followed by these businesses involves creating psychological disturbance in their users so that they reveal their deepest emotions and drives. Which usually means anger and hatred.

  • the torrent of data collected by these businesses allows behavioral prediction and manipulation of their unconscious users to do everything from buying stuff to changing votes via marketing to one scenarios to anyone with the money.

  • the user is not only a product but rather fuel like a resource that is constantly mined for free.

  • the only reason this happens is lack of regulation and through tight regulation of data we can still have most of the benefits these businesses provide and avoid the current nightmare situation. The GDPR is a good start but more must be done.

https://samharris.org/podcasts/152-trouble-facebook/

Oh yeah and Apple really is a better company like it or not. It is the only company mentioned here not acting like an evil douchebag towards it's users for extra profits.

Internet

Comments

  • coxjon on 21/04/2019 - 11:33
    +5

    I just find it funny that google’s motto is no longer “don’t be evil”

    • Aliastar on 21/04/2019 - 12:52
      +6

      Now, they're to big to fail. Their motto should be "why be good?"

  • Scrooge McDuck on 21/04/2019 - 12:00
    +5

    If you're not paying for the product, you are the product.

  • Aliastar on 21/04/2019 - 12:41
    +3

    "Oh yeah and Apple really is a better company like it or not. It is the only company mentioned here not acting like an evil douchebag towards it's users for extra profits."

    It's because they aren't in the social media or advertising business. But they milk their customers with their hardware haha

    • Hybroid on 21/04/2019 - 17:35

      They are actually. Apple have both social media and advertising businesses. They’re just not as popular or profitable because of their stance on privacy which is to be applauded.

  • [Deactivated] on 21/04/2019 - 15:05
    +6

    After reading that article I'm definitely voting greens on may 18

    • Aliastar on 21/04/2019 - 16:32

      there's no linked article.

  • kahn on 21/04/2019 - 16:38
    +1

    I recall Sam Harris making an argument once that ordinary citizens should not be allowed to have any data with unbreakable encryption because of the possibility of a terrorist threat. His typical mental gymnastics made the comparison to someone having a secret room that authorities couldn't access. So, it's somewhat surprising to see this post.

    I also recall him on Joe Rogan saying something like "the Syrian military used chemical attacks on its population, that's simply a fact". Given some of his statements, and his support for torture, I would suggest being critical of anything he says.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join