Ask HN: What can I do as a U.S. citizen to stop this? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: What can I do as a U.S. citizen to stop this?

We need to put an end to "Yes" and "Not now" being the only options presented when prompted for consent on the web, in apps, etc.

It's an attack on autonomy and consent.

Sure, there's cases where it's warranted, but it is very clearly not used wholesomely in the general sense.

I've had a weird week, so maybe this is an over-reaction, but this is a hill I am willing to die on. This, and making it so if I can sign up for an account online, I should be able to close my account online (looking at you, Planet Fitness... despicable).

Please help me find a way to drive change.

Edit: I am a US citizen, but I want global change

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I work in public policy so can add a few thoughts, but I must preface by saying this is a big lift and it will take a long time, at least a year or more. With that said, here we go:

The FTC is your #1 target. They regulate consumer protection and deceptive practices online. Bureau of Consumer Protection, especially Division of Privacy and Identity Protection, and the Technology Enforcement Division.

I would suggest reaching out to the Division of Privacy and Identity Protection. I don't see in my public databases an easy way to contact them, but the Director is Benjamin M. Wiseman. I hesitate to publish contact information for him but if you did some Googling you could probably find it. Alternatively, call (202) 326-2222 and ask for his office.

Before you do.. I strongly encourage you to write out less than 3/4 of a page of what you want, what you want to happen, and why. You may not get a meeting but if you send an email and politely ask for a short Zoom or phone call to discuss, they will generally try to make time for you.

Ultimately, however, you're going to need classic "noise and numbers" - lots of people to hammer the same message.

However, it's a little more complicated than that. First, the President has ordered that for each new regulation there must be at least 2 rescinded. So to get what you want in play will take a new regulation, or a new law, which the latter is just not worth your time.

Start with the Privacy and Identity Protection Division, talk to them, get their thoughts, and ask questions.

One more caveat and this is critical: Have an ask. Not just "fix this" but "Will you research this," "Please speak to your Director about a new regulation," something so that you have a reason to "check back" on that ask. Having an appropriate, measurable, incremental ask is absolutely key. Then settle in and just work the issue person by person, convincing others to your cause.

This is a bit simplified but it's how lobbyists and advocates do it every day across the country. I wish you the absolute best of luck because it is a good issue.

Edit: Also contact EFF. They have lobbyists who might already be working on this issue, and can use you as an expert or consumer advocate.

Write your representatives, the Speaker Of The House and the Senate Majority Leader. You could call and/or email them too. If you're super gung-ho call their office and see if you can make an appointment to talk to someone on their staff.

If you're really gung-ho get some friends together who agree with you and find an opposition candidate to either primary or run against your current representative. Ask that person to change their views to agree with yours if they don't already. Consider making donations if they either agree or will change their mind.

Still more gung-ho? Get a large number of friends together and run for office. Once in office make friends of other office holders and through a series of back room deals bring forward legislation that will accomplish your goals.

I think in California it is a law that if you sign up online, you can cancel online? NYTimes gives you a different cancellation flow if you're in California vs if you're anywhere else in America.

Consider supporting initiatives like this: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43595269

I'd run into problems before where I showed up at the desk at Planet Fitness, got told my cancellation would be forwarded to the manager and it wasn't.

When my evil twin made my situation at Planet Fitness untenable [1] "we" found the life hack of going to the desk with my tall and awkward looking son and an overweight and foul smelling friend which resulted in my not getting the runaround at all.

[1] fortunately the end of my evil twin

A citizen of what? Planet Earth?

Lobby your regional critters to pass a law. If you're in a big enough regional population center, it may influence a large swath of companies (see California).

All things are voluntary.

Surely you can find a bigger hill these days.

Shocked at anyone thinking either this is the only thing I'm concerned about as a citizen or that bigger problems make this egregious attack on consent/autonomy a non-issue or that it's not all a part of same problem and fighting back in every way possible isn't fruitful.

I narrowed the scope of this post so I could get responses pertaining to the scope that I narrowed it down to.

You're shocked that I took your words seriously? I can't do anything about that.

You’ve got bigger problems to worry about right now if you’re a US citizen.

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