EFF: In WSJ Op-Ed, Mark Zuckerberg Speaks Down to Users and Misses the Point
In WSJ Op-Ed, Mark Zuckerberg Speaks Down to Users and Misses the Point Mark Zuckerberg’s op-ed in the Wall Street Journal today (paywalled, but summarized here ) relies on all-too-familiar refrains to explain the dubious principles and so-called “facts” behind Facebook’s business model. It’s the same old song we’ve heard before. And, as usual, it wildly misses users’ actual privacy concerns and preferences. “Users Prefer Relevant Ads” He starts with one of his greatest hits: “People consistently tell us that if they’re going to see ads, they want them to be relevant.” This perpetuates the ad industry’s favorite false dichotomy: either consumers can have “relevant” ads—targeted using huge collections of sensitive behavioral data—or they can be bombarded by spam for knock-off Viagra and weight-loss supplements. The truth is that ads can be made “relevant” and profitable based on the context in which they’re shown , like putting ads for outdoor gear in a nature magazine. To r...