[jstepka]

There is not a problem.

There are several companies competing for ad dollars and using various platforms (search, Instagram, etc) to feed ad systems for revenue. Their systems are extremely targeted and I like the optimized ads for new brands that are finding me.

Additionally, Chinese companies are doing the same and will combine even greater amounts of data — size is extremely valuable in an economic war of east vs west. I choose us.

[MereInterest]

> Their systems are extremely targeted and I like the optimized ads for new brands that are finding me.

Forgive me, but this sounds entirely like PR-speak used by ad companies to justify the mass stalking they perform. What sort of examples are there that you enjoy, what information did they use to target you, and what made that initial information gathering be justified?

[mehlmao]

> Their systems are extremely targeted and I like the optimized ads for new brands that are finding me.

Then it would be fine for them to switch to opt-in tracking, right?

[jstepka]

don't use their products then?

[dna_polymerase]

What does China have to do with any of this?

[ocdtrekkie]

China is the leading bogeyman used to suggest allowing monopolies in the US is a good idea. In short, since China allows their companies to behave badly, we should let ours behave badly too so that we don't fall behind in the market.

[sct202]

A Chinese company owns Media.net which is one of the largest AdSense competitors.

[MereInterest]

Even so, it comes across as a jingoistic diversion in order to paint users and advertisers as being on the same side. "It would be a shame if there were one fewer group stalking you everywhere you go, because then the right people wouldn't be stalking you."

[sjg007]

I think the risk is that your targeting information is in the hands of a company that can be mined by the Chinese government to perhaps even identify you. It's also aggregate market/economic information. Should this data be protected or otherwise restricted? Should it be export controlled or not? You can imagine that the "data wars" are coming ... whether that's healthy competition or something else I don't think we know yet or have policy around. I think the EU is further ahead in this space with policies around data privacy for example.

The US could operate similarly but we usually expect a warrant for such access but I think there is a big push in the US govt to expand access as well.

[La1n]

>The US could operate similarly but we usually expect a warrant for such access but I think there is a big push in the US govt to expand access as well.

With PRISM starting data collection from Google more than 10 years ago I think expecting a warrant for this very valuable data is generous.

[sjg007]

For sure parallel construction is a looming issue that we as a society and the courts need to figure out.

[jfoster]

You are completely defying how trendy it is to act disgusted by targeted advertising.

[Ericson2314]

Not only is it morally reprehensible, I consider it impractical to "beat" China via abrogating all anti-trust.

They monopolies actually do things. (c.f. general electric -> shitty finance.) They are no 1 state capitalists. They can monopoly better than we can.

[hurricanetc]

We can’t out monopoly China and it’s absurd to try.