Security News > 2020 > October > To stop web giants abusing privacy, they must be prevented from respawning. Ever

Both firms know their users better than those users know themselves; observing trillions of interactions with digital intellects vast, cool and unsympathetic, applying these observations to build a predictive model used to direct and shape "Engagement".

From fifty-plus years of anti-smoking efforts, we know that getting people to stop using something that they know is bad for them won't be easy.

Created to boost the "Stickiness" of content, these machine-learning-driven systems create powerful feedback loops between users and these content providers.

Their use needs to be carefully regulated - just as we regulate addictive drugs.

Today's national governments, weakened by the very powers they seek to contain, face a similar threat.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2020/10/16/web_giants_breakup/