[nrivadeneira]

Do you have any evidence that Google Voice records phone calls without a user's explicit permission? I was never referring to voicemails (which are rarely used these days anyway).

I also don't see how you can make the argument that passive recording of everyone around you is the same as Facebook only receiving data that a user proactively sends it (ie. status updates, photo uploads, etc.).

Finally, even if we were to accept your slippery-slope arguments as true, why not go further down the slope and claim that the internet shouldn't exist either because massive data sets about your lives are already being mined and are at risk of nefarious use?

[angersock]

Always, always with the absurd "hurr durr slippery slope what about this nonsensical extreme" stuff. If you cannot fathom the difference between the Internet as a loose federation of servers and services on an open protocol and network, and the sharecropping and fencing-in of modern walled gardens, I have nothing to say to you. If you can't figure out how the latter position is more easily abused than the former, I can't help you.

As for the voice stuff--look, given that much data, why wouldn't you mine it to improve things like transcription and whatnot?

(If a Googlebro wants to correct me on this, by all means go ahead.)

[nrivadeneira]

It's surprising you don't see the contradiction in saying that the open network of the internet is vastly different than our modern walled gardens, but then saying that our open real-world is comparable to the same walled gardens.

Also, I don't give much credibility to arguments that are based off an assertion like "I have no evidence, but...well, why wouldn't you?"

[embolism]

His argument seems to be that users will willingly give up meaningful amounts of privacy and personal data in exchange for minor conveniences and discounts because they don't understand the value or deeper ramifications of doing so.

It seems bizarre that you would try to dismiss this.