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Comment by inetknght | Hacker News Reader

> What is wrong with the status quo?

Businesses are deciding who lives and who dies, instead of people being allowed to have their own choice in the matter. These businesses make decisions based on data stolen from users. If the data were on paper in a person's home, it would be considered private and inaccessible.

Why should a company decide that they should have access to your every move and every data, just because you purchased something from them? Why should a company decide what you're allowed to do with your device? A business shouldn't be permitted to decide these decisions for you without your fully informed consent.

That's what's wrong with the status quo.

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It's funny, you're first sentence "Businesses are deciding who lives and who dies, instead of people being allowed to have their own choice in the matter" to me meant "Apple deciding who can and can not do business with users of iPhones"

The status quo is that Apple has this power on top of the power to collect 30% for all digital transactions (or be denied on the store) and the power to force Apple Pay support to be required (or be denied on the store). Apple also has the power to collect all the data but deny it to others.

That's the status quo that the EU is addressing.

Note: I don't want FB to have my data. I also don't want Apple to have those powers enumerated above.

> The status quo is ...

> That's the status quo that the EU is addressing.

> Note: I don't want FB to have my data. I also don't want Apple to have those powers enumerated above.

Yes, and I concur.

>Note: I don't want FB to have my data. I also don't want Apple to have those powers enumerated above.

In an ideal world that would be great. However, right now it is either Apple of Google when it comes to smart devices for average consumers. Kinda like political dichotomy in US politics.

Democracy will not function with an educated public. And dumbing down choices are just a way to get give power to megacorp and political institutions.

> Democracy will not function with an educated public.

What makes you think that?

> dumbing down choices are just a way to get give power to megacorp and political institutions

Yes, and an educated public would find better ways to convey the same information because they can use their education to build a new thing, or build regulations or laws where they see a need, or build defenses against adversaries without sacrificing privacy. You can't do that with your local public (eg, citizens) if your citizens aren't able to comprehend the problems they're encountering.

> Democracy will not function with an educated public. What makes you think that?

Sorry now I can't edit the parent comment now. That was miss type (bad keyboard). Meant to say "Democracy will not function with OUT an educated public. Happy New Year!

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