Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

DippyDem

(659 posts)
Sat Apr 1, 2017, 12:05 PM Apr 2017

Don't fall for browsing history fundraisers....interesting Snopes article

Activists Threaten to Spill Congress’ Browsing Histories After Privacy Rollback

http://www.snopes.com/2017/03/30/activists-congress-privacy-vote/

Redditor Tempkins writes..
1. First off – this bill hasn’t been signed, the data doesn’t exist, and nobody knows what they’re talking about. We don’t know if there will be any data to buy, how it will work, or what will be available. This means you should be very skeptical of any GoFundMe projects to buy this data. They are making promises they can’t possibly keep.If and when any data becomes available, myself and Cards Against Humanity will do whatever we can do acquire it and publish it. We have a long track record of activism and spending around government transparency issues. We’ve donated over a million dollars to the Sunlight Foundation and the EFF.

2. This may take a long time. We may have to file FOIA requests. We may have to buy browsing data for Congressional office building ZIP codes and then p-hack our way to statistical significance in an attempt to fish spurious correlations out of unreliable datasets, but we’ve done it before.

3. The amount of attention this is getting is honestly starting to scare me. I know that voting this up is funny, and easy, and feels good. But even if we get this data, it’s a symbolic victory at best. Our basic human rights, like the right to privacy, are being sold to the highest bidder while the best minds of our generation are here on Reddit asking pro gamers if they want to fight a horse-sized duck or whatever. Real, material change requires sacrifice. You probably can’t do it on a computer. If you’re frustrated with the way things are going, the incompetence and corruption of government, and the money in politics, we need to support institutions like the EFF and we need to be heard by elected officials. I really like the tool 5Calls.org. If 100 Redditors called a congressman, it would freak them out and their staff would have to do something about it. It really doesn’t take much.

Lots more at the Snopes link above.


4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Don't fall for browsing history fundraisers....interesting Snopes article (Original Post) DippyDem Apr 2017 OP
It's about ISPs selling their customers data Jonny Appleseed Apr 2017 #1
knr Qutzupalotl Apr 2017 #2
KR trof Apr 2017 #3
Don't tell people that the Easter Bunny isn't real. Binkie The Clown Apr 2017 #4
 

Jonny Appleseed

(960 posts)
1. It's about ISPs selling their customers data
Sat Apr 1, 2017, 12:21 PM
Apr 2017

So number 2 wouldn't apply unless the congressperson is providing internet for the entire building.

Binkie The Clown

(7,911 posts)
4. Don't tell people that the Easter Bunny isn't real.
Sat Apr 1, 2017, 01:36 PM
Apr 2017

They don't want to hear that, so they will find some way to deny it.

I've seen posts on DU where after being presented with the evidence that it's a scam, the poster still defends what they really WANT to be true, so they tell themselves it is.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Don't fall for browsing h...