RE: My Mainframe adventure
Ex-act-ly.
I was actually waiting for your response because I knew it would be an interesting one.
I haven't watched Snowden yet, but it's on my watch list... I absolutely agree with you, most people haven't grasped the scale of this, and the general apathy is quite disturbing. I watched a BBC documentary series called "Secrets of Silicone Valley" before the whole Cambridge Analytica news came to light, and even back then they were talking about how they were collecting and using our data to make (some very accurate) assumptions about us based purely on what kind of posts we 'liked' or even just read, therefore, adjusting advertising etc in order to influence our vote(s).
I have no doubts at all of how deep they can go into ruining a life, and it's a tricky subject to talk about openly because most people are quick to use the term "fake news" or just have that look on their faces that you have gone full-on tin foil hat on them.
It is scary, and you've brought up a question that I daren't even think about, "what are they doing now?" I shudder at the thought of that.
I actually don't think the whole Cambridge Analytica thing was that big of a deal. I knew it was going to happen eventually way back when, just looking at the horrible security of apps. All these apps you use on Facebook have access to way more info than they need to run. Same with Android. Android's gotten a little better with newer version at least though. There are going to be more breaches though. Cambridge Analitica thing just had the misfortune of being implicated in the first publicised breach. They like knew exactly what they were buying though, and that it wasn't exactly kosher. They also likely weren't the only ones to buy it...
As far as the advertising, I actually wish I could volunteer a little info so they stop showing me certain ads. There are some I just really don't wanna see. :P
It's scary, but we might be at a point where the tin foil hat people might occasionally be more right than anyone else. I fear whats more that we passed the turning point and it's going to quickly become far too late.
Perhaps it's time for me to head to the supermarket and buy me a role of tin foil lol...