[burntsushi]

You have a valid point, but you're overlooking a really crucial difference: data in the hands of a corporations means something entirely different from data in the hands of government. One of them has a monopoly on the use of force and the other doesn't. At least, that's the distinction that is important to me.

[wutbrodo]

Not to mention that one is voluntary* and one isn't. Sheesh, my grandparent comment needs a healthy dose of perspective.

*I'm using voluntary here in the most straightforward sense possible. You can switch services if you'd like, or even turn off ad targeting for most services. You cannot, however, go to a an nsa.gov link and click the "Please don't track me" box.