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by blindriver 343 days ago
Around 2014 I worked with recruiters and they had a tool that aggregated data on everyone through LinkedIn, yelp, twitter, GitHub, eventbrite, etc. it was breathtaking the amount of information you could get on anyone, over 10+ years ago.

I’m guessing with the help of Palantir, the government has even more data and can probably link Reddit posts etc based on styleometry and can even perform psychological analysis on your personality and tendencies, etc.
3 comments
worik 343 days ago
> it was breathtaking the amount of information you could get on anyone, over 10+ years ago.

After being burnt by things taken from my social media out of context, used to publicly shame me, I locked down my social media

Am I "sweetly naive" to think that had an effect? I do think it did

Before I stopped using Facebook I noticed, over the last decade, that almost every account I encountered was locked down similarly

My point is I suspect it is getting harder, not easier, for data thieves. The golden age of data theft has passed. Maybe.

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slumberlust 342 days ago
Not sure I agree.

FB creates a shadow profile for you even if you no longer have an account. Databrokers respect legal requirements to delete your data then just populate a new profile for you.

I'd argue it's easier now than ever to get hands on someone's data in the USA.

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rustcleaner 342 days ago
>styleometry

I really need to start using PocketPal (local LLM on Android) to restate my messages.

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Oh, the places I'd like to send my texts so fine, With PocketPal, a tool that's truly divine, Local LLM on Android, a wondrous device to see, To help me restate my messages with glee! Wheee!

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kevin_thibedeau 343 days ago
The government has been buying and funding R&D with data brokers since before Google existed.
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