[rurp]

Changing posession of personal user data from a financial asset to a liability is probably the most effective thing the government could do in the near term to protect people's information. Companies right now are incentivized to collect tons of personal data because it's worth real money to them and others, and the liabilities mostly fall to the users. If there were heavy financial consequences to leaking personal data then companies would self regulate away a lot of terrible behavior that is currently common.

[ethbr1]

Imho, the test should be "Is targeted advertising barely profitable?"

It should cost enough to retain personal data that, unless that's your primary business and you're very good at it, it doesn't make financial sense.