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Telco CEO: Consumers Have 'Double Standards' Over Data Privacy (thestack.com)

Posted by msmash on from the in-some-other-news dept.

An anonymous reader writes: Despite consumers continuing to criticize corporate attempts at monetising data, they are happily handing over data to major tech companies such as Facebook, according to the head of Telefonica Deutschland, Thorsten Dirks. Dirks argued that there is a double standard among consumers who 'scrutinize any attempt to make money off their data', while at the same time 'handing over data voluntarily to companies such as Google and Facebook.' These firms, he opined, are stealing away business across the very infrastructure that telcos have invested billions in. Calling for a wide debate around data privacy in Germany, Dirks said that he was looking into ways to make money from Telefonica Deutschland's huge store of customer data. One proposition was to leverage the anonymised data of its 44 million mobile subscribers' location and movements to support crowd and traffic control.

7 of 67 comments (clear)

  1. Because it's my choice by Snotnose · · Score: 5, Insightful

    When I give personal info to FB or Google or whoever I make the decision to do so, and I know what I've told them. When the telcos vacuum up my info they grab everything without even asking.

    fuck the telcos.

    1. Re:Because it's my choice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I know what I've told them.

      Possibly, but I would be surprised if you knew *everything* they gleaned from you.

    2. Re:Because it's my choice by Austerity+Empowers · · Score: 4, Insightful

      When I give personal info to FB or Google or whoever I make the decision to do so, and I know what I've told them

      The obvious answer that is so obvious that it is almost as if the telco's are deliberately ignoring it. If I could encrypt every possible element of my network traffic from them (I mean down to layer 2), I would. I want them to know NOTHING and I want them to be able to hand over to the government, NOTHING. Even if you use VPN services, they know you are doing that. Already overshare.

      Facebook and Google I can lie to and mislead, it's my choice what to disclose and how.

  2. Voluntarily by sconeu · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What part of "Voluntarily" does this asshole not understand?

    I am aware that Google and FB use the data I provide. I am aware that by using their service, I am the product and not the customer. I know what I am handing them.

    On the other hand, I am a *CUSTOMER* of the ISP, not the product. I am ***PAYING*** them for the line. I have no idea what data they are harvesting and selling.

    If this asshat can't understand the difference, maybe he should just go get some cheese for his whine.

    --
    General Relativity: Space-time tells matter where to go; Matter tells space-time what shape to be.
  3. Big difference... by BenJeremy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I PAY my ISP or Cell provider, so I don't expect them to try and make even MORE money off of my data. Google and Facebook are "free" services, and we are well aware of the fact that they are using our data (and act accordingly, if we are concerned)

  4. Give and Take by FellowConspirator · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I have a variety of things. I give some things away, as is my right. If someone comes up and takes a thing from me, even a thing I was going to give away to someone else, I may get upset. This is not a double standard. This is how "things" work.

  5. Also overlooking the fact: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    That with Facebook/Google, you are getting a SERVICE in EXCHANGE for your personal data. Whereas with the Telcos you are EXCHANGING MONEY for a SERVICE over which you expect privacy except during a legally filed and approved wiretapping warrant by a member of law enforcement of good standing. Not that either of those situations actually happens, but that is the idealized belief people are under.

    Telco bosses: If you want to get all that personal information, then offer free telephone service in exchange for it. If you will not, then you are recieving your financial compensation directly from the customer and STFU about wanting greater profits and feeling slighted that someone who offers their service for 'free' with the stipulation that they may utilize your personal information in the pursuit of upkeep costs and profit is held to a different metric of acceptable behavior to you who have a monopoly on the communications infrastructure for your region.