[Aaronstotle]

Although I get your frustration, I think it's too early to say there won't be a shift in the field. More people are becoming aware of the mass surveillance and globs of data collection which means that someone can make money making a startup that "Does X, but doesn't sell your data". Maybe _I'm_ the one who's too optimistic, but projects like Monero show me that there's people who care about privacy to create/maintain a digital cash equivalent.

[Nasrudith]

I think it highlights two issues with it. One of which is a matter of "outsourcing privacy/trust" being inherently a risky concept and much of it is learned instead of sold. Since all of the perfect VPNs and end to end enceyption won't protect against poor opsec.

Second for business there is a question of "where is the money from with the business model"? Skipping that step leads to a VC acquisition which will subvert it once it gets big enough to "harvest" it at best.

Data-gaming SEO style seems like it would be the logical consequence of the surveillance but that may fall into the legally dodgy on its own.

GIGO spam may be what eventually bursts an ad-tech market. Phone systems are already notorious for being overwhelmed with scam and spam callers. Now imagine click and view farming being similarly leveraged as noise overwhelms signal.