[seymour333]

I think it's important to take time and think about some of the potential outcomes of bulk data collection.

Take this for example: there is currently a trend in the insurance industry to require an activity tracking device in order to activate certain life insurance plan discounts and other benefits. The data pulled from the activity trackers is almost certainly going to be used to enhance profitability for insurance providers, which is something that eventually will have a negative impact on some portion of people who buy life insurance.

This data might not affect first generation subscribers, so many people are comfortable to surrender it. Somewhere down the line people are going to have increased premiums or will be denied insurance altogether based on what is currently being collected. There is also the chance that the children of the people who are willingly providing this data will have higher insurance costs based on data collected from their parents, or grandparents.

The bottom line is that every company that is engaging in data collection is, or soon will be, using it to gain an unfair advantage against consumers. The consequences may seem abstract or far off, but every data point surrendered is a will have a cost at some point in the future. I'd rather not help large corporations take advantage of me.

[godot]

From what you said though, it sounds like when you opt out of data tracking, you're at a disadvantage from those who are being tracked. (i.e. those being activity-tracked and proved to be healthy get lower insurance premiums) This seems to be the opposite of what OP wants -- be motivated to stop being tracked.

At a higher level view, this appears to be a prisoner's dilemma. If everyone opts out, everyone is eventually better off. But some people will opt in now, and get the short term benefits (lower insurance premiums). In the long term, everyone will be worse off.

[seymour333]

That's exactly the point I'm trying to make to OP. Think about the future and opt out!

It's a super tough sell for most people though, so the majority is likely going to just opt in, or remain opted in by default. Which I suppose means that we should all just try to reap whatever benefits we can now and wish our future selves all the best when it comes time to legislate this whole thing.