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jen20 4 days ago

So? I want it on my terms, which are mutually exclusive to yours. Who wins?

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echelon 4 days ago | parent [-]

You can choose not to download anything.

We're asking to rewire the economics and regulatory framework, not change how you personally use your phone.

I don't care how you use your phone. I care how the world works.

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jen20 4 days ago | parent [-]

What you are proposing is the balkanization of software delivery.

I indeed choose not to download software from Facebook and friends, but it’s quite likely others will need to as it will become the only way to get their software. At that point: tracking out the ass.

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echelon 4 days ago | parent [-]

"Balkanization" is the wrong way to view this. This is waking up the regulatory arm of the government that has been asleep at the wheel. And it should have been done over a decade ago.

The better analogy is a forest fire. We're clearing up the overgrowth (ossification, unfair taxation, and unfair control) and creating room for new life to start and flourish.

> I indeed choose not to download software from Facebook and friends, but it’s quite likely others will need to as it will become the only way to get their software. At that point: tracking out the ass.

Don't like a negative externality? Tax and regulate it. It's what Europe does. And it's what we're good at doing in every industry except for the software industry. We need to stretch those muscles and get back into the habit of doing it.

We should pass regulations on giant social media companies as well.

But in a world where we have no software freedoms and where certain software tracks us, having software freedoms is the more important cause and it's where we must start our battle. You don't need to use Facebook, but you need to use a smartphone. New social media apps are started all the time (TikTok, Tea, etc.) but smartphones are trillion dollar moats.

Our smartphones are our gateway to digital life. They need to be liberated from Apple and Google. Mobile computing belongs to all of us.

	▲	jen20 4 days ago \| parent [-]
		> "Balkanization" is the wrong way to view this. It's a perfectly valid way to view it. Forest fire might be another valid way to view it, but is different. Both are equally valid, and represent different views of what ideal is. > Tax and regulate it. It's what Europe does. I am European. Nice try though. > We need to stretch those muscles and get back into the habit of doing it. I don't disagree. Start there then. Make it so that tracking me incurs such a heavy penalty payable to me personally that it is not worthwhile. Then go after the distribution mechanisms that allow someone to live a relatively tracking-free life without having to be an uber-nerd to make it reality. > Mobile computing belongs to all of us. There are plenty of platforms. What you are saying is it belongs to the people who want it to be a certain way with particular negative outcomes for many people. I want it to be a different way with negative outcomes that affect me less.