Posted on 01/30/2021 8:16:39 AM PST by TigerClaws
What happens when an unstoppable force hits an immovable object? In a recent speech at Brussels' International Data Privacy Day, Apple CEO Tim Cook went on the offensive against Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook. Cook's speech seems to be a direct response to Facebook's recent attack on Apple, in which the world's largest social network took out full-page ads in several newspapers attacking Apple's new privacy changes.
But what's most fascinating is that Cook took direct aim at Facebook without ever mentioning the company by name.
Technology does not need vast troves of personal data stitched together across dozens of websites and apps in order to succeed. Advertising existed and thrived for decades without it, and we're here today because the path of least resistance is rarely the path of wisdom. If a business is built on misleading users on data exploitation, on choices that are no choices at all, then it does not deserve our praise. It deserves reform. We should not look away from the bigger picture and a moment of rampant disinformation and conspiracy theory is juiced by algorithms. We can no longer turn a blind eye to a theory of technology that says all engagement is good engagement, the longer the better, and all with the goal of collecting as much data as possible. Too many are still asking the question, 'How much can we get away with?' When they need to be asking, 'What are the consequences?'
What are the consequences of prioritizing conspiracy theories and violent incitement simply because of the high rates of engagement?
What are the consequences of not just tolerating but rewarding content that undermines public trust in life-saving vaccinations?
What are the consequences of seeing thousands of users joining extremist groups and then perpetuating an algorithm that recommends even more? It is long past time to stop pretending that this approach doesn't come with a cause. A polarization of lost trust, and yes, of violence.
A social dilemma cannot be allowed to become a social catastrophe. The fact that Cook doesn't name Facebook somehow increases its impact. Because as you hear Cook's 's speech, you can't help but immediately think of the house that Zuckerberg built.
If you're wondering how Apple and Facebook ended up at odds, you can read more of the details here. But the reality is these two tech giants have been heading towards a major conflict for quite some time. The problem is that Apple's and Facebook's business philosophies are diametrically opposed to each other:
Apple is a lifestyle brand. And part of the lifestyle Apple sells is users having more control over their privacy.
Facebook, on the other hand, is in the data business. The more data they collect on users, the more effectively they can sell targeted ads. But collecting and selling all that data comes at great cost, as Cook highlights. "The end result of all of this is that you are no longer the customer," said Cook. "You are the product."
Cook went on to further highlight the differences in Apple's and Facebook's philosophies, in no uncertain terms. "We believe that ethical technology is technology that works for you," said Cook. "It's technology that helps you sleep, not keeps you up. It tells you when you've had enough. It gives you space to create or draw or write or learn, not refresh just one more time."
At first glimpse, it might appear that Apple and Facebook are on diverging paths. But in reality, they're on a collision course. So, what does happen when an unstoppable force hits an immovable object? One of them gets destroyed. The takeaway
There are major lessons here for entrepreneurs and business owners. As Cook aptly points out, "advertising existed and thrived for decades" without using data that was collected in less than transparent ways. And as customers are offered more choice when it comes to how apps and websites track their data, experts predict that more and more people will opt out of said tracking. If you're an advertiser, you'll need to adapt. Or die.
But there's also a bigger lesson at stake.
Now is the time to ask yourself:
Which philosophy do I want to pursue?
Do I want a business that serves my customers? Or one that takes advantage of customers to serve my business?
Because in the end, only one of these philosophies is sustainable for the long-term. The other will lead you to crash and burn.
And while the long-term solution may initially prove more challenging, remember: "The path of least resistance is rarely the path of wisdom."
I hope they kill each other.
Ended it? Huh.
I just checked and it’s still there.
When cook actually bans facebook from the app store, then I will believe he is doing anything more than virtue-signaling.
He banned Parler for a whole lot less evidence than exists for Facebook’s complicity.
Well yes and no, I agreed with very little that he said, and even more of what he failed to say. That free speech is an important ingredient of what makes the U.S. a great and wonderful nation. That cancel culture must be stomped out of existence, now.
Sounds to me like Cook is wanting Facebook to be MORE draconian in their censorship. I hope the ‘collision course’ destroys both companies.
Alle makes lots of margin on hardware and related services that don’t require selling their customer data.
Facebook has nothing but customer data to sell to generate ad revenue (I hardly ever use FB but I don’t recall seeing ads).
The two businesses are fundamentally different.
Gee, I wonder if the CIA and other alphabet agencies are interested in such data.;-)
Is that a bad thing?
I don’t know that I fully understand the issue.
Seems Apple is now offering a privacy setting that upsets Facebook. Is this because Facebook uses the data for selling to advertisers? Tracking people for their own agenda? If so, this could really hurt Google too because they are the masters at tracking people and using it on behalf of obama and his goons. Again, I am not sure I fully understand the issue.
It would be great if it buried Facebook, Google, and Twitter.
Old African Proverb:
"When Elephants fight, it is the grass that looses."
Hell, facebook will read private messages and do ads based on it. And follow you to other sites like amazon or homedepot and put ads on your feed. This is their entire business model.
I root for injuries.
This is all just a Clown Show, for entertainment. There is no substance.
I don’t think he was talking about Facebook at all.
He was talking about how the algorithm favors likes, shares, and comments. And interestingly how that correlates to the banning of conservatives on the platform. As if we were the one’s fomenting violence and the algorithm was spreading it. When quite the contrary the algorithm was pointing it out to fact checkers and moderators to ban.
That’s right, and no one should ever forgive the kneepads SOB for crushing a legitimate competitor like Parler.
Had anyone done that to Steve Jobs in 1977 it would have been considered ghastly. Congressional probes would have ensued.
I knew and worked with a lot of the original Apple developers. I can safely tell you they are ALL on our side. They are independents who work hard, live hard, and have a fanatical devotion to detail, coolness of the product, and a total disdain for phony’s and goalongs. In the early 90s they were all Perot supporters.
The management of Apple are non-techs who came out of the Leftist schools with crap degrees. They survive on the backs of the real dreamers and thinkers there. Cook isn’t one of them.
They should apologize to John Matze and offer to support his site with their very best backbone servers. A company that got its start with Capn Crunch and the Blue Box has no goddamn business running around stomping out legitimate companies.
Goodness. That is scary. Zuckerberg got with some of obama’s people and stole the election.
Does Apple’s privacy settings allow me to disable Zuckerberg and Google’s tracking?
I used DuckDuckgo and don’t post on facebook. If I could go to privacy settings where I am not tracked by these extremist creeps, I would do so.
Yes...very fascinating (rolling eyes)
That is the best news in MONTHS...
That’s the problem, you never truly know how safe you are. Are you logged by a VPN? They say no, but it’s just a quick switch to turn on or off. For the most part just consider anything you search for, post, or visit tracked and logged and to be used against you for just marketing if you’re lucky.
I’ve seen a lot of interrogations where the cops will say ‘here’s where you turned your phone off and here’s you searching for ‘how to marry your mistress’’ and so on.
Duckduckgo claims to not log and they probably are better since they don’t have accounts, but you can never be sure. They have to be making an income from something though..
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