this post was submitted on 12 Mar 2024
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Avast fined $16.5 million for ‘privacy’ software that actually sold users’ browsing data (www.theverge.com)
submitted 8 months ago by wanderingmagus@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world
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Avast, the cybersecurity software company, is facing a $16.5 million fine after it was caught storing and selling customer information without their consent. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced the fine on Thursday and said that it’s banning Avast from selling user data for advertising purposes.

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[–] n0m4n@lemmy.world 3 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I wonder what other uses there are to sell data that is not for advertising? My second thought goes to what is in place to stop a middleman from saying that they would not sell information for advertising purposes, but selling the data for "quality control of data acquisition" purposes. If you are getting a service for free, you are the product.

[–] drawerair@lemmy.world 3 points 8 months ago

Political campaigns? A political candidate may want to know his opponent's supporters and may think he can do a more targeted wooing. 1 may say it's advertising too.

Also, he can send bots to the political discussions that folks participate in. The bots can start nasty political arguments.

A greedy religious figure may want to encourage more to join his religion. More members, more cash.