There is a large disparity in forms of cheating here. As an example- I was an engineering student, so it was obviously very heavy on technical classes. At a point you realize how ridiculous *some* of the tests really are: teachers have become lazier and lazier in creating their tests- most tests are pure memorization exams rather than tests for conceptual understanding. As the tests relate less and less to practical, applicable knowledge, which um is really what you should be learning, the lesser forms of cheating suddenly become more rationalized, and almost necessary. So you get no notes allowed on a physics w/ calc test that contains problems using maybe a dozen of a possible 40 formulas you've covered in that section. What is that testing? Just pure memorization, basically, and you are going to dump basically all of the formulas that you crammed shortly afterwards. In nearly every real world situation you can use open reference to look up a formula when you need it, draw on others to solve a problem, etc. The testing experience often exists in it's own little box in the world, just be glad you have a graphing calculator that can fit notes. That's the only way I made it through a few classes- even though most of the time I would not need to reference them. I would say that's quite a few ballparks away from copying answers from some other student, which I never considered, but a 'have cheated' answer nonetheless.
The difference that you ignore is the power that is behind the respective parties. For a private company what does this information allow? Well pretty much the most they can do with it is to better target products to your buying habits. But for the government? They have the power to blackmail, audit, imprison etc etc etc. They are putting together a massive databse to make judgements on people based on such things as when they call somebody, or what they buy. If you pop up in whatever algorithm the government comes up with it'll be a tad different then getting an advertisement fit to your tastes..
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There is a large disparity in forms of cheating here. As an example- I was an engineering student, so it was obviously very heavy on technical classes. At a point you realize how ridiculous *some* of the tests really are: teachers have become lazier and lazier in creating their tests- most tests are pure memorization exams rather than tests for conceptual understanding. As the tests relate less and less to practical, applicable knowledge, which um is really what you should be learning, the lesser forms of cheating suddenly become more rationalized, and almost necessary. So you get no notes allowed on a physics w/ calc test that contains problems using maybe a dozen of a possible 40 formulas you've covered in that section. What is that testing? Just pure memorization, basically, and you are going to dump basically all of the formulas that you crammed shortly afterwards. In nearly every real world situation you can use open reference to look up a formula when you need it, draw on others to solve a problem, etc. The testing experience often exists in it's own little box in the world, just be glad you have a graphing calculator that can fit notes. That's the only way I made it through a few classes- even though most of the time I would not need to reference them. I would say that's quite a few ballparks away from copying answers from some other student, which I never considered, but a 'have cheated' answer nonetheless.
The difference that you ignore is the power that is behind the respective parties. For a private company what does this information allow? Well pretty much the most they can do with it is to better target products to your buying habits. But for the government? They have the power to blackmail, audit, imprison etc etc etc. They are putting together a massive databse to make judgements on people based on such things as when they call somebody, or what they buy. If you pop up in whatever algorithm the government comes up with it'll be a tad different then getting an advertisement fit to your tastes..