[jonhohle]

If Charmin put sensors in toilet paper rolls to optimize the wiping experience, it would be dystopian. Why do we give software a pass? Privacy is a right not a telemetry problem and opt-out by default is non-consensual surveillance.

[cyberrock]

In fairness Charmin is probably backed by millions of dollars of market research on simple user questions like softness, tendency to crumble, size, etc., while free software faces more criticism for issues that are exponentially more difficult to express.

[jonhohle]

Ok, replace Charmin with a toilet paper startup disrupting the industry. They wouldn’t be given a pass either. Still disgusting.

It should probably be noted that if there’s no agreement, collecting telemetry without opt-in probably violates several state and federal laws. Not that these are enforced, but it would be nice if they were.

[DonHopkins]

>Ok, replace Charmin with a toilet paper startup disrupting the industry.

"Move Fast and Break Things" is an ominous motto for a disruptive toilet paper startup.

So is "Fake It Till You Make It".

"Crowd Sourced Enshittification" is more like it.

[lukewarm707]

i think it's not so much non-consensual, it's misrepresentation.

it's bugged. the same as a mole in your company. or a sculpture with a listening device in it.

tell the user that your thing is bugged!