news.volyx.in

The Fantasy of Opting Out (thereader.mitpress.mit.edu)

611 points by pshaw · 2540 days ago · 195 comments on HN

Article summary

The article discusses the idea of opting out of data collection and surveillance, with some commenters suggesting that this is not possible and that individuals must instead find ways to obfuscate their online presence. The article's content is not available, but the comments reveal a discussion about the tension between privacy and security. Some commenters argue that using tools like deepfakes and GPT-2 to create noise and confusion online can be a form of resistance. Others argue that this approach is not effective and that more fundamental changes are needed to protect privacy.

Main themes

  • privacy vs security
  • surveillance capitalism
  • online obfuscation
  • data collection
  • censorship

What commenters say

  • Using tools like deepfakes and GPT-2 to create noise online can be a form of resistance against surveillance capitalism.
  • Obfuscating one's online presence is not an effective way to protect privacy, as it is still possible for others to gather information about an individual.
  • The creation of noise and confusion online can be seen as a form of 'privacy theater', which does not address the underlying issues of data collection and surveillance.
  • Some individuals believe that the only way to protect privacy is to stop the flow of data completely, while others argue that this is not a realistic or desirable goal.
  • There is a need for greater transparency and accountability in the collection and use of personal data, particularly in the context of social media and online services.
  • The use of surveillance and data collection can be used as a form of social control, with individuals being penalized or censored for their online activities.
  • The line between security and censorship is often blurred, with some individuals arguing that certain forms of online activity should be restricted or prohibited.
  • The development of new technologies and tools can both empower and undermine individual privacy, depending on how they are used and regulated.