> if the data is readily available via API how much have you really gained? Facebook will simply write a web crawler that downloads all your data because it's public anyway.
I don't really care what companies like Facebook do with such publically-accessible data, since I don't use any of their services anyway.
What I would gain is access to such data, which I'm currently excluded from by their silo's EULAs.
I hear you, but I do care what is done with my data. We're just different use cases. You don't directly use any of Facebook's services, but if you surf the web without some very strict cookie management I guarantee Facebook collects data about you. You're part of their service even if you're not a customer.
> if you surf the web without some very strict cookie management I guarantee Facebook collects data about you.
Unfortunately you're right. I block as many Facebook domains as possible in my hosts file, and browse with noscript, ublock, w3m, etc. to try and keep their tracking to a minimum.
> You're part of their service even if you're not a customer.
It's disturbing that Facebook gathers information on almost everyone. It's even more disturbing that so many people sign up for an account, and spend so much time providing so much more information.
In reality very few people are actually customers of Facebook, as in, perform financial transactions with them.
I don't really care what companies like Facebook do with such publically-accessible data, since I don't use any of their services anyway.
What I would gain is access to such data, which I'm currently excluded from by their silo's EULAs.