Each Facebook User is Monitored by Thousands of Companies (themarkup.org)
from 111@zerobytes.monster to technology@lemmy.world on 18 Jan 2024 21:01
https://zerobytes.monster/post/5458411

#technology

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Bishma@discuss.tchncs.de on 18 Jan 2024 21:47 next collapse

Website owners can configure the pixel to track user website interactions such as searches or filling out a form, sending each action to Meta, even if the user doesn’t have an account on Facebook.

Haven’t had a facebook account in over a decade, but I have no doubts that they still have loads of data about me.

BearOfaTime@lemm.ee on 18 Jan 2024 22:04 collapse

Isn’t the tracker pixel really old news hy now?

I’ve never even been to the Facebook website, at all, ever. When I first heard of it I knew it was bad news.

Like you, I’m sure they still know lots about me

Bishma@discuss.tchncs.de on 18 Jan 2024 22:18 collapse

I think “metal pixel” has just become what they call their trackers, not that its an actual pixel any longer. I could be wrong but I’ve heard references to the “meta pixel” for enough years after most companies switch to JS or other methods that I jumped to conclusions.

BearOfaTime@lemm.ee on 19 Jan 2024 16:09 collapse

I so want to build a proxy that strips stuff like this, host it on a RPi with PiHole. Maybe a proxy could essentially apply a filtering CSS?

Do enterprise level firwalls/IDS/IPS have some capability Ike this? Seems it would be the thing to do, ensuring some security against phishing.

Bishma@discuss.tchncs.de on 19 Jan 2024 16:28 collapse

You can find routers and what not with various PiHole like software. If you’re comfortable with network engineering then you can certainly write NACLs and the like to blacklist tracking networks.

Stopping them at the browser level is also reasonably effective. EFF’s Privacy Badger is a must have extension for me.

stoy@lemmy.zip on 18 Jan 2024 21:48 next collapse

Yeah, that is the deal when you use a free service, you are selling your information in exchange for acces to a service.

That being said, non facebook users are also tracked by thousands of companies.

KpntAutismus@lemmy.world on 18 Jan 2024 22:17 next collapse

i don’t expect spotify to stop abusing me because i’m giving them money. that’d mean they miss out on profits.

stoy@lemmy.zip on 18 Jan 2024 22:28 collapse

That is an interesting question, at what point is it more profitable to care about your user’s privacy rather than selling their data?

Logically, you could just take the income from the data you are selling, divide it among all users, add the smallest domination of currency you can, and set that as the cost of using your service.

However, then you need to handle payments, deal with added costs and administration, most people not wanting to pay and so forth.

knobbysideup@sh.itjust.works on 18 Jan 2024 23:34 collapse

Not always. Only for-profit driven companies that offer no tangible product.

Many of the forums that I hosted were free to the orgs that used them. I’m already paying for the server and network for my own use, so why not give back to the communities that I am a part of with my other skills as a sysadmin?

homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world on 18 Jan 2024 22:52 collapse

It’s all part of the massive shitshow that is corporate social media. Stay off the facepals, kids!