Masters of the Universe category archive
Your Private Vehicle Isn’t–Private, That Is 0
My local rag reports that Ford is considering mining customer data for fun and profit. Here’s a bit from the article:
Data mining is a highly lucrative revenue stream.
General Motors recently tracked the habits of 90,000 drivers in Chicago and Los Angeles who agreed to have their car-radio listening habits tracked to assess the potential relationship between what they listen to and what they buy.
Ford CEO Jim Hackett provided a glimpse into what sounds like a potentially massive data mining plan. His remarks were made during a Freakonomics Radio interview for a podcast released Nov. 8.
“We have 100 million people in vehicles today that are sitting in Ford blue-oval vehicles. That’s the case for monetizing opportunity versus an upstart who maybe has, I don’t know, what, they got 120, or 200,000 vehicles in place now. And so just compare the two stacks: Which one would you like to have the data from?” Hackett said, according to the podcast transcript.
The Watchers 0
A New Hampshire court wants Amazon’s Alexa digital surveillance device assistant to testify in a murder trial. Here’s a bit from the story:
“The court finds there is probable cause to believe the server(s) and/or records maintained for or by Amazon.com contain recordings made by the Echo smart speaker from the period of Jan. 27 to Jan. 29, 2017 … and that such information contains evidence of crimes committed against Ms. Sullivan, including the attack and possible removal of the body from the kitchen.”
The story goes on to say that Amazon is inclined not to cooperate “without a valid and binding legal demand properly served on us”* in the interests its customers’ “privacy” (because, I reckon, that belongs to Amazon).
I will be curious to see how this turns out.
But this is certain: So long as persons unthinkingly invite Big Data into their personal spaces and willingly subject themselves to perpetual corporate surveillance, we will be seeing more like this.
Me, I can flip my own damn light switch.
_______________
*Like, maybe, just supposin’ here, a judge’s order?
Everybody Must Get Fracked 0
From the website:
A new report, again, concludes that fracking is causing earthquakes, more and more earthquakes around the globe. And now lawsuits are helping hold the frackers liable for their action. Ring of Fire’s Mike Papantonio and Farron Cousins discuss the issue.
The Entitlement Society 0
Robert Reich comments on the self-important snowflakes of our new Gilded Age and manages to find commonalities amongst a most disparate set of folks.
Walking the Walk 0
I think Atrios is onto something here.
The Medicine Show 0
Thom and Wendell Potter discuss how Big Pharma and Big Insurance are trying to scare Americans from fixing the healthcare mess that feeds their bottom lines.
More here.
Responsible Fiduciaries 0
Apology, schmapology. What’s gone is gone.
Where are the criminal charg oh, never mind. They have impunity.
Follow the link for more responsible fiduciaries.
The Pusher Men 0
This should be interesting:
The lawsuits also say that the companies falsely told doctors that patients would “only rarely succumb to drug addiction.”
(snip)
The lawsuits accuse the manufacturers of:
- Falsely, deceptively and unfairly marketing opioids.
- Misrepresenting the risks and benefits of opioids.
- Grossly understating and misstating the dangerous addiction risks.
- Grossly overstating the benefits.
- Targeting susceptible prescribers and vulnerable patient populations.
- Making deceptive statements and concealing material facts.
- Fraudulently concealing their misconduct.
- And breaching their duties under federal and state law to prevent diversion and monitor, report and prevent suspicious orders.
More at the link.
Mangled in the Equifax Machine 0
This is an unbelievable cavalcade of stupid.
Facebook Frolics, Biometric Boog-a-Loo Dept. 0
Mike Papantonio talks with Brigida Santos about why a judge is ordering Facebook to face trial over its collection of data from personal images.
Merger and Monopoly 0
One of the most pernicious acts of Ronald Reagan was to suspend enforcement of anti-trust laws, leading the corporate consolidation we see around us, delivering the polity into the hands of our own homegrown oligarchs.
Thom and his guest discuss how monopolies work.
Afterthought:
It’s ironic that Republicans simultaneously extol vociferously the virtues of competition while actively supporting–and are supported by–those who would eliminate it.
The Limited Access Information Highway 0
Thom discusses the Trump’s FCC’s attempt to end net neutrality.
