Board:   [WWIVnet] Tech Talk
Subject: Threads is a bad idea
From:    Utopian Galt #1 @815
Date:    Fri Jul 07, 2023 18:55

Essay by Dan Trimble a security consultant

TikTok may legit be a national security risk. But the new #Threads (Metas
Twitter killer) isnt far off. No one but Meta and TikTok harvest and exploit
you more. The only real difference is Meta just wants money versus TikToks more
nefarious scenarios.
Before you sign up, take close note of the data Threads exploits  iOS reports
it harvests health and financial data, precise location, browsing history,
contacts, search history, and more. Even TikTok collects less.
And those are just broad categories.
It also harvests political and religious affiliations/leanings, sexual
orientation, race and ethnicity, biometrics, Union memberships, pregnancy
status, job history, exercise routines, photos or video you take of where you
are,  all of which can then be cross referenced with the rest of the broader
data categories - audio, music, calendar, contacts, health, files in your
mobile devices, browsing history, and real time location tracking.
It's all in the terms/conditions under data collected. Which, of course, no one
will read.
And heres the biggie. HUGE.
You cannot delete Threads without also deleting Instagram. They are
deliberately intertwined and Meta is using the existing IG user bases years of
entrenchment as a bludgeoning tool to make you stick it out with Threads - or
give up everything.
These are facts, not opinions.
If youre good with continuing to sell EVERYTHING about you to Zuk (the Grand
Master of #SurveillanceCapitalism) for little more than a crack-like social
media addiction, go forth and enjoy.
Just know YOU are the product theyre selling and the data collection is
unprecedented in scope and exploitability. IT. IS. NOT. FREE.
.