this post was submitted on 19 Nov 2024
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Privacy

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A place to discuss privacy and freedom in the digital world.

Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.

In this community everyone is welcome to post links and discuss topics related to privacy.

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 month ago

I mean, yeah, privacy isn't really a thing in our digital surveillance age. Doesn't mean I'm not gonna make it as hard as possible for them. Make em work for it.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I don’t think I’ve had an issue on Firefox other than some sites saying “unsupported browser,” which is really the site’s fault.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

I found Firefox to be much slower than Chrome... 10 years ago. Now, not only is it just as fast, it's a much better experience all around.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago

Ultimately, arguing that you don't care about the right to privacy because you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don't care about free speech because you have nothing to say.

Edward Snowden

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago

Is that the same as the misnomer or fallacy that privacy is dead?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago

Hey you have nothing to hide? Please give me: Your address, bank account info, card numbers, social security, and the information of your family and friends. All passwords. Hand over your wallet too. Give me photos of your fingerprints, genitals, and a 360 view of your head. Why does it matter what I could do with such info? You have nothing to hide, right?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago

Yeah a very reddit moment

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Ultimately, the sentiment isn't completely wrong. Using a different browser isn't going to save you from being tracked. Using one or multiple browser extensions isn't going to save you from being tracked. Using a VPN isn't even going to save you from being tracked.

Accounts are pretty much required to use most sites, and many also require connecting a phone number or other personal details. Privacy is actively discouraged, and attempting to pursue it leaves you with many hardships -- by design I would argue. You buy a product on one site, with no prior search history about it, and suddenly you start getting emails from unrelated sites about similar products. In capitalism, any information about your habits and interests also becomes a commodity. Why shouldn't people dismiss privacy in favor of convenience, in such a system? It seems futile to even try.

And if your government is determined to figure out who you are online, then it will. Don't make the mistake of thinking they don't know what you've been up to, here or otherwise.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

It isn't completely right either. Browsers, extensions and, only in some cases, VPNs can save you from being tracked by some. You are describing first party tracking but the point is mostly to prevent third party tracking. An adblocker and an email relay goes a long way.

I agree with the rest though. Regulation is the only way.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Privacy also doesn't exist when you have the entire website being indexed

full discussion on spezit

I'm also a firm believer in you don't need to freely give up your data

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago

I did not realize "spezit" was "spez" and "reddit" until I reread your commnt lol. I thought was some reddit privacy frontend with the German pronunciation of "z".

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

What's the difference anymore?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago

An excuse to still be right.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago

My "progressive" friends are this way - "everyone already has everything, whatever who cares"

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Damn, how did you get three complete troglodytes in one place?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago
[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

Off-topic, but I do agree in general that Edge is a solid browser. I use it when I'm at work and really love the vertical tabs and tab groups. I use firefox for personal use and am patiently waiting for the vertical tabs on the stable release (and not just in about:config).

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

Trust in privacy, fight against GAMAM!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

tell them to post their buttholes online then 😂 i cant with folks like this.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

I do fall into that way of thinking sometimes and in discussions and such, but even then, i still take steps to maintain a level of privacy. It's for stupid reasons, I'm admittedly not knowledgeable whatsoever on data privacy. (As in, why is it necessary since we already carry a lot of data collection devices with us as we go around that I know most people dont even think about.) But it makes me just feel better, I guess.

Most of my friends have actually moved away from Firefox to more tailored browsers like opera, which i think is much worse in terms of data protection. (again, uninformed. It's just something I've seen thrown around, feel free to correct me if that's wrong.) At times, it really is quite easy to start thinking like the people highlighted in the post. I'm 22, and have a degree in computer science. There was a module on data security, but it was mostly focussed on data leaks and encryption methods rather than the 'philosophy' on why data protection is important. Even in the final year of uni, people were being quite flippant with it.

It's probably just a cultural shift, as more and more companies collect mass amounts of user data, people gradually get more comfortable with the idea I guess. Especially with gen alpha, who are born into a world where it's just a fact that all companies are actively farming your data. To them, it's not something to be concerned about whatsoever. There was never a time in which they had privacy, especially since they are introduced to technology before they can even speak, write, or remember.

What I've put above is mostly just waffle honestly, but I hope it provides something to someone LMAO.

Edit to add stuff: I guess to make the point more obvious, for younger generations it's because privacy just isn't real for them.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

Hopefully the Trump presidency is a wake up call in the importance of privacy. As we slowly move towards fascism, privacy becomes more important than ever.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

laughs with my GraphineOS pixel and librewolf and Alpine on my librebooted Thinkpad

(Obviously you don't need to start where I'm at but everyone's goal should be to eventually become as secure as reasonably possible)

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago (4 children)

I just want RISC-V and open drivers on everything.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

Same, I wish all technology was shared and open :3

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