Why Even Your Local Grocery Store Wants Your Digital Data

[@frankcoffey]

I worked for a junk mail company in the 80s and 90s and I used to wonder how much information about the people on the target list was "enough". That seems like a silly question today. There is no such thing as "enough".

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

If you ain't rich, you ain't nothin' but a serf. 💪😎✌️ And even the wealthy folks are $lave$ to the ELITE, uber-rich. That's just how it is. Acceptance is key.

[@alastairhewitt380]

Kramer: "Why does Radioshack want your phone number when you buy batteries?" I love when this was considered an absurdity and we weren't really sure why tf a business would even ask us for such a thing

[@frankcoffey]

@@alastairhewitt380 And in the early 80s I was a Radio Shack manager. We sold computers but wasn’t allowed to use them We had to use paper tickets and ask every customer for their contact information. Then I had the nerve to be shy about asking a girl for her phone number.

[@JPs-q1o]

The immediate and ubiquitous risk of your data being shared among all these retailers can be summed up in two words: price discrimination (look into it) Now these corporations get to tax you too! Why should the government get all the fun?

[@Dowlphin]

The world domination empire has always been insatiable. It is in its nature.

[@adstix]

To reduce privacy breaches: • use cash as much as possible • avoid loyalty programs • decline email receipts • don't scan QR codes • turn off wifi and location when shopping/dining outdoors • clear browser cookies regularly • be circumspect about downloading apps • say your daily prayers of protection against the ubiquitous data thieves!

[@xocomaox]

Lol, basically make everything more difficult and expensive for yourself. What a life!

[@lingth]

So paranoid.. it's like in future.. Americans will be like Dun leave home without your gun.. And you will be telling ur kids going to school Instead of "dun forget ur lunchbox!", it will be dun forget ur Glock!!.. yes pops..

[@nainex52]

you forgot clear your own forest land, cut trees, build your own house, farm your food with fertilizers from your excrement, and do all that with tools forged by your hands

[@alastairhewitt380]

We all need to join the amish if we want any hope of surviving this century

[@AmericanWears]

Just freeze your credit report, and there’s services that remove your data from the web.

[@AwokenEntertainment]

it's crazy to think as prices are going up, there is even more money being made on the backend...

[@anthonyfaucy2761]

Ask yourself where is all that money going exactly

[@happycook6737]

If businesses have collected all this info, why can't they identify shoplifters with tech?

[@myoutuber77]

They probably could, but the publicity "crooks hang out here" would hardly do any good to their image and perceived consumer safety.

[@RavenWolfDrum69]

Right on

[@Iquey]

The same systems that build customer profiles are not for identifying shoplifting. Usually they are two separate systems. The shrink system vs the sales system. They want to identify a conversions profile, so ... The "best customers" turning an agnostic customer into a loyal customer is not so easy, and that's where like value oriented stores they've because those customers care mostly about price and not a unique experience. . Maybe in the future, identifying shoplifting will be integrated into the sales tech, but it might be too much information for one company. It might help them understand for jnstance, which items are stolen the most, and where they have an opportunity to sell a less expensive "dupe" product. This might motivate the petty theft person to buy the less expensive one in the future because this customer might not wan to steal but they feel like they have to resort to theft to afford the quality item , vs identifying dedicated organized retail theft/stolen goods resellers who just grab a lot of the expensive stuff no matter what. I personally feel like corporation don't care about the nuances of who is stealing or why though, and just seek to punish those who make the largest losses and treat all theft the same.

[@Cheezwizzz]

How do you know they’re not?

[@LuvBluSky-we1zo]

They can write the losses off........

[@bumbut7891]

Same happens when we donate to organization. In no time we will be bumbarded with posts from so many non profit organizations asking for donation with a personal letter, so scary 😮

[@repatch43]

I have to admit, after seeing this happen to relatives, the amount of junk mail they still get to this day, I absolutely refuse to 'donate' anymore.

[@techcafe0]

A significant Data Monetization Tax ought to be imposed on these data harvesting companies: grocery store empires, social media platforms, media companies, marketers & advertisers and 'data brokers', all of them need to pay up, and contribute their fair share to the public good.

[@julesmum9781]

And then they just hike prices even more

[@guysumpthin2974]

“Face first” , facial recognition

[@Dowlphin]

That's an almost satire-level suggestion.

[@techcafe0]

@@Dowlphin just because you cannot imagine or think outside the box doesn't mean we can't make it happen.

[@liberty-matrix]

When the service is free, you're the product.

[@lbgstzockt8493]

But going to a supermarket is a decidedly not free activity, is me giving them money for their goods (which continue to get more expensive) not enough? Greed is truly the root of all evil.

[@Freiheit1232]

Where is this free grocery store you go to?

[@lingth]

Reminds me of the movie Minority Report.. in the movie, the moment you step into a mall, a scanner scans ur eyes and identify you as who and address you by name and ask how is ur last purchase and then recommend you a product you may like.. it may be good for some ppl but can be embarrassing if the AI says Hi Mr Jack, How's the Victoria Secret underwear you bought last time.. did you enjoy the purchase?

[@Sacto1654]

They already have that with the Amazon app--like many years ago.

[@vincebaker3384]

If a store can gather lots of info about you as soon as you enter a store and tracts you why can’t this data be used for smach & grab crime to identify and capture the robbers.

[@andergarcia4953]

Some law enforce actually ask google to give private data to solve certain crimes. Like a house was burned down and they had no leads, law enforcement requested the data of anybody who searched that house up. Anybody who did became a suspect they then went through people search history and determined a main lead. They need email, numbers and or you need to be connected to their wifi or have their app downloaded or search history that connects them to the crime. It can be very complex because how many search up target every second?

[@-----------------------------]

Blame your state and local DA. Some stores like target already track thieves with facial recognition and wait until they can build a case against you. Not that it matters because the local progressive DA thinks the thieves are victims.

[@vincebaker3384]

@@andergarcia4953 if this data was so prvie how data broker can cloect it & do with it as they want with out our prmissiin?

[@lolliannbruce7783]

That’s a GREAT question! However it seems like it’s mostly used to make more money… and while stopping crime can SAVE money over time, it seems companies want to MAKE more money first… 🙃🥸

[@cosmicllama6910]

They want to be able to use theft as an excuse for why they can't pay living wages or provide benefits, even as they make record profits year after year.

[@michaelschikschneit8550]

The government won't act on behalf of the average citizenry. They pander to the rich, the corporations, and the lobbyists.

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

Of course. Money is honey. Health is wealth. Might is right. 💪😎✌️

[@shiptj01]

That's true.

[@dannydaw59]

And the super pacs.

[@Mandelbomb]

This is why I always tell people our phones aren't "listening" to our conversations. We are far easier to predict and advertise to with other information we already provide.

[@RefreshingShamrock]

Actually they are listening. Every phone call is recorded by the government. Ignoring that, your phone listens to your conversations to improve its AI.

[@rickysampson8759]

Look up obama ndaa. That gave the govt the right to spy on its own citizens and can legally stage false flags. Read it. Obama destroyed America

[@nunyadambusiness3530]

Sometimes I'll think something, and I get ads for it. This has happened several times.@@RefreshingShamrock

[@LostMySauce]

@@GarretGrayCamera I’ve been working at various marketing agencies over the last decade. Your phone is not listening to you, it’s just a coincidence. You’re targeted based on interest and behaviors that fall within a specific time frame

[@lingth]

Well u can go back to communicate by letters .lol then again you might worry ur mail is being checked by x-ray machines in transit.. ha ha. Nowadays even if you go outside there is spy satellite in the sky or drone to track you .and everywhere is a CCTV..and every car you walk past has a car dash cam that records you walking by. The only way to avoid it is to live in a rural area or buy a boat or a camper car and live off grid..

[@xnor64]

With GDPR in EU, it is illegal to link credit card payment data to anything else without opt-in consent.

[@Chrisallengallery]

I'm from the UK. They may use facial recognition to link you to your purchases internally. Even if anonymous, they track you when you enter the store, know what time you are likely to be back, and what you are likely to buy. Also, how much you are willing to spend. To add, loyalty cards are becoming almost impossible to avoid unless you want to pay extortionate prices. The two pricing system that many supermarkets are employing is forcing customers to opt-in.

[@xnor64]

@@Chrisallengallery Maybe in the UK, but in EU biometric data is covered by GDPR. I have not seen extortionate prices myself, but perhaps it is different there, it certainly sounds like something they would do if they can get away with it.

[@Chrisallengallery]

@tygmy I've just had a quick read of our GDPR and you are right. The customer has to be fully informed about what data is collected. With a loyalty card, you are practically giving them consent to everything within reason.

[@xnor64]

@@Chrisallengallery yeah with loyalty cards you probably do not need explicit consent if the loyalty program cannot be implemented without tracking your purchases similar to how credit cards do not need consent. Of course in these cases you will not be able to withdraw consent either, otherwise you could just withdraw consent from credit card company and effectively get your debt forgiven :)

[@hitardo]

Another major issue, regarding data protection, is cars. Modern cars produce, and send back to the OEM or service provider, a great deal of information. Another issue is that your decision can have influence towards your family members. Regarding, health information, because it often is genetic, a degree of probability can be drawn between family members. Can you imagine being rejected on a insurance plan, because your cousin was signaled as a diabetic? Data is power! And we need to be aware that companies must not do whatever the want with it, especially because the main company driver is money - because they are obligated to do so, as for their shareholders interest (pun intended).

[@darinherrick9224]

No but I can imagine my life being saved because a computer knows I have a genetic disease.

[@hitardo]

@@darinherrick9224 yes, this is one of the features which is sold to us. This is shy so many people have Echo powered devices (Alexa from Amazon) at their homes, as well as Google's Home Hub and Apple's Home Pod (Siri). They are sold the convenience, but are offering their data back to those companies. In your case, I understand your necessity / reasoning. However, when it comes to shopping, there are so many variables, which makes me doubt we will get there shortly.

[@happycook6737]

Also the silly people who sent swabs to companies that analyzed it! Like Some Number & Me. Sigh.

[@Dowlphin]

Yeah, cars are especially disgusting. There is no excuse for this. If justice ever gains the upper hand, there will be no mercy for all the selfish abetters, because when a flood has been dammed for too long, when the dam breaks, it's all at once.

[@vickiroman189]

Why does "we collect less data than our peers" not comfort me?

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

Because it's a false "downplay". "Sure, I've mü®d3r3d people before. But they were all bad guys. And way fewer than my competitors." 😂🤣😂

[@joebonaiuto5554]

I do not understand the data collection at stores and online. I bought a pair of jeans at the store about a year ago, and got email ads about pants for weeks, why, I bought the pair of jeans I needed. In a few year's I will look again for a new pair.... I always think about, years ago, I had to replace the control unit for the heating element or something like that in a dehydrator. I did a quick search, found it on the company website for $43, and Amazon for $36, so I purchased it. It took me a few minutes to replace, and I was done. BUT, for the last 8 years, I have gotten emails every week about replacing my unit, buying a new one, maintenance...I have my email filters set to put any email with the word Excalibur directly into the spam folder..... Seems like the whole thing is just a waste of everyone's time.

[@Chrisallengallery]

I've always wondered if advertising works at all! It may for some people but myself, for example, is very skilled at spotting and ultimately ignoring all advertising. I don't believe any of this subliminal messaging either. I guess I only buy what I need, not what I want. If it's important I will do my own research on the product and search for the cheapest price.

[@wyntoncolter1067]

This was interesting because it made me think about the fact we all know that algorithms set in place to show us what we like from almost every aspect imaginable. It was stated that companies shouldn't be able to do what they want with users data, but I think the concern comes from data collected being used for other purposes and or being sold as someone else own personal property. Data being collected to cater to the wants of the consumer.

[@ruthlessluder]

When I see an ad, say a pizza ad for Little Ceasars. If I want pizza, I will intentionally go to their competitor like Dominos. Likewise, if there's an ad for Nationwide, I will probably switch to State Farm. Enough people do this and it'll screw up the system.

[@xocomaox]

Yes, the goal should be to make advertising as bad as possible so you have to do all of your own research and legwork to find the products and sales you're really looking for. Sounds fun.

[@NotACat2237]

They can keep track of all of this stuff about you, but can't keep people from stealing and have to lock up items. That doesn't add up to me.

[@cosmicllama6910]

They have to be able to blame "theft" for why they can't pay living wages, while also making record profits year after year. It helps to keep the poor focused on hating other poor people and not the real criminals at the top.

[@269productions]

Way more is being written off by these places then gets to the store, it's all a scam to blame and shame the customer.

[@apl175]

Over the years, I've conditioned myself to specifically NOT buy anything that is presented to me in online advertising. But that doesn't stop me from randomly clicking on "Already purchased this item". I fear my advertising profile is seriously messed up at this point.

[@xocomaox]

Why did you purposely mess this up so much?

[@aslamnurfikri7640]

My phone keeps giving me ads of houses in Japan (I don't live in Japan btw)

[@chaikagaz]

Thats because houses in japan are owned by the bank. Ppl dont live in houses anymore after they move to the city so banks are left with them.

[@ckm-mkc]

Advertising is not about getting you to buy something RIGHT NOW, it's about planting a seed about buy that thing at some point in the future.

[@dawnkindnesscountsmost5991]

Advertisers probably figure that if you bought an item once, you might buy it again. They apply that to everyone.

[@paestum70]

This is what happens in the US where privacy laws are far too weak. Don't count on the US government to "step in". They only support corporate lobbyists. Americans need to realize this is a ruse and call out their politicians.

[@mathgasm8484]

The grocery store I work for tracks everyone's credit card for targeted ads and they refused to do tap or apple pay because they cannot track those payment methods.

[@kevin007515]

What happens if I retire a credit card and get a different one?

[@mathgasm8484]

@@uweschroeder The company encourages you to use the app for groceries and tosses in a free item every sunday. so they will get the data in one way or another.

[@uweschroeder]

@@mathgasm8484 Yet, I don't use the app and pay in cash. Sure they get some data, but not my data. They don't even know my name. Nobody forces you to use real information when you sign up for the program. If they would pay attention they'd realize that Peter Miller lives in a zipcode that's exclusive to mailboxes, had a phone that's not connected and a mailing address that doesn't exist - oh, and he's over 100 years old. Pretty good for someone buying loss leaders and nothing else.

[@uweschroeder]

@@mathgasm8484 BTW: Peter Miller has a brother called Frank Miller, who seems to live in the same place but has a different phone number. You know, some of the offers are limited to one or two and should I want 3 Frank is going shopping 3 minutes after Peter...

[@sciencelover3339]

Do they refuse cash too?

[@tragicrhythm]

Excellent piece. Also getting corp money out of politics may help our representatives legislate on behalf of the public’s interest instead.

[@JPs-q1o]

The immediate and ubiquitous risk of your data being shared among all these retailers can be summed up in two words: price discrimination (look into it) Now these corporations get to tax you too! Why should the government get all the fun?

[@hamsterbrigade]

I believe this is the solution. We need to repeal citizen's united v FEC.

[@DK-qf6pr]

Even worse than retailers tracking you, is that your smartphone mic and camera is sending information to advertisers without you knowing. Say something about a product and you will get related ads. Or have your phone camera facing products in your house and the next ads will be around that product

[@rangerannie5636]

The only store I shop at regularly that isn't collecting personal sales data is Dollar Tree! Sacramento, California USA 🇺🇸

[@piyush3549]

The targeted ad is super dumb right now, I need Nike to send me offers based on my last purchase and how long the shoes would last, and send me just before they might be about to fall apart. That would be super cleaver. No point sending me junk emails as soon as I make purchase.

[@Chrisallengallery]

They probably already do that.

[@Damariobros]

To use Walmart's Wi-Fi, I found that they have switched to not only requiring your email to connect, but to _log in to your Walmart account._ Just to use their Wi-Fi. You HAVE to have a Walmart account. That also means you can't just connect to their Wi-Fi and immediately have your VPN turn on. You have to connect, then sign in to Walmart's website without your VPN, THEN turn on your VPN

[@dimitriberozny3729]

Then they block all amusement park emails and promos so they can send you back to school ads in late June in order to ruin your summer! THIS HAPPENED TO ME ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO!!! Then you get pop ups about fall clothing and back to school stuff and clothing and all tourism emails end up getting blocked to your device. TRUE STORY!!!

[@ginkgobilobatree]

Why nothing from Amazon, who owns both Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh and does grocery deliveries? Fresh just today sent me an email saying they will put things I buy into my Fresh cart when they become available for my benefit - haha. Supposedly these items will be "reserved" for me, even though I constantly experience ordering something to be delivered which has become out of stock between me ordering it and the packing for the delivery. I think it is unconscionable for them to put things into my shopping cart that I did not put there. I now have to check my entire cart before I push the order buttons. (I expect them to back off of this with enough mistakes.)

[@jamesonpace726]

What a brave new world with such people in it....

[@malice4422]

social media and scrolling is our Soma

[@dannydaw59]

I want congress to require opt in for data collection not opt out. The consumer would have leverage that way.

[@uweschroeder]

That's not in the interest of those who pay the members of congress to sit there. We have the best government money can buy.

[@krjourneyfan78]

You can limit your participation in all this surveillance. Don’t accept cookies, for one. Don’t buy or shop for things you don’t need. Don’t use apps. Don’t ever allow them to use your location when you are online. Just say NO to everything and pay cash or use just one card for large purchases. Don’t be a slave to your phone.

[@MissAynneK]

Hmmm I'm now thinking about all the obviously unnecessary questions that I am forced to answer on these job applications that I've been filling out. It always irritated me that they want soooo much in just to merely *apply* to the job. I have a sneaking suspicion I know what these companies "need" this information for 😑

[@cosmicllama6910]

And why they are pretending to always be hiring now but never calling anybody back

[@TheKrazyKat89]

The fight for data privacy has always seemed completely and utterly hopeless to me. Like this video shows, modern data collection methods are very intricate. Every company and every government partakes in data collection. 99% of people don't care so there's no popular push for regulation. There's absolutely nothing that can be done about this that doesn't involve applying very punitive restrictions to your own life. And if you use KZbin, you've already lost anyway.

[@BCrossing]

The video says 80% of americans care. It's the politicians who don't

[@kenmore01]

I don't think it's so much 99% of Americans don't care as much as it is 99% of Americans have given in. Just for the reason you stated to open your comment, it seems hopeless, so people fight the fights they feel they can possibly win.

[@Dowlphin]

People didn't do their homework, so now the mafia's war against the masses is far advanced. Not that this is sustainable, but the mafia's downfall also rips its enablers with them, and also kills the saints that could still save them. Now the crooked, the selfish, become the new victims that have to save themselves.

[@StarATL]

Apparently Home Depot does NONE of these things as I can’t find a rep nor find anything I want in the store.

[@kuwnaomimarie]

Lmaooo which one ?

[@krisniznik3953]

Home Depot does not respect customers privacy AT ALL. One thing our local one did was sell a list of people who had rented tools to a business that recruited customers for contractors. That resulted in ENDLESS phone calls. I can only imagine where the online data goes.

[@MENSA.lady2]

I'm fighting back. I pay cash only, no matter what for. Any store that insists on plastic loses my business, hopefully others will follow suit. Your privacy matters.

[@nnkk7742]

I think the problem with ads is that the desire for advertised products is largely manufactured. I virtually never see ads that make me want to buy a product. I am buying products though, so why aren't I seeing ads for things that I would actually want or buy? Because those products aren't profitable to advertise. The only ones that are profitable to advertise have huge markups that justify the ad budget and technologies. I can almost guarantee that every product being advertised isn't the best product on the market to buy from a cost/value standpoint. At the end of the day 'ads' are a way to target susceptible individuals to sell them overpriced products. If companies ever find a cost effective way to help me locate products that provide me a good cost/value proposition in areas relevant to me then I would gladly volunteer my data and eyeballs.

[@myoutuber77]

Same goes for Black Friday deals. Discounts apply on goods retailers want to sell, not goods consumers want to buy. Or think cars, same thing. If people's needs and retailers' selling desires were perfectly aligned, then any advertising would be a pointless effort.

[@stephenbruce8320]

First thing they should do is put the data brokers out of business. Next thing is not allow companies to share the data they collect. I am tired of looking at things online and then seeing ads pop up. Its so bad I made my browsers erase histories, cookies and a ton of other things. It reduced those ads but they still appear and FB is the worse because you tell FB not to display ads and then you see more using different names but the same stuff. If it were not for my family I would not use FB. Tracking people needs to be limited and easily controlled by the user. Its so bad I have become less and less active online. Now Microsoft has joined in on the game trying to foce people into having their account on their system, hey I bought the hardware and prefer a local account but Microsoft has followed Apples lead to force you to having a Microsoft Account. Nothing personal should be in the cloud which it can be hacked and when this happens an apology is not good enough.

[@dannydaw59]

Ya, this is why I don't use Facebook or Twitter. KZbin collects data too but at least I'm not on all the social networks. I can't delete Facebook off my damn phone though.

[@Demopans5990]

Pihole my friend. use a old laptop to minimize the data you leak

[@jm2307]

I read this as “why grocery chains want your DNA” 😆

[@kenmore01]

LOL, so they can clone you and make more consumers!

[@flowerpower3618]

I don’t think it works very well sometimes. I’m a life long tea toller and I get advertisements for booze all the time. But they do know I’m an older woman because I get anti aging product ads all the time as well. When my husband retired we were bombarded with investment mail.

[@Lala-z4n3i]

They’ve always had more info than I cared to give, but I also am a harder consumer to pinpoint. I get stuff from a particular credit card company saying they could have pointed me in a direction to save me further money. They couldn’t because what I bought was one of a kind hand crafted, not run of the mill. Thy see I bought an item but have no understanding of how specialized it was. Facebook constantly targets me with ads. Even if I’m interested I would never purchase the item thru that ad, so they might as well give up. Ads only work to the degree that a person allows them to. It is annoying to see numerous ads for say towels when you were just looking for towels, but honestly I only buy from specific places from experience on the internet anyway.

[@Stompinwind]

There is no auction for ads is already predetermined the delay is due to how ads are packaged to monitor

[@joseventura9685]

To all who want to turn off that smartphones permanently buy your self a a flipp phone so you don't get advertising on your phone and keep the home land line so you still have access to phone. Also turn all tablet devices when not in use.

[@sasstewart1222]

Please mostly shop at Trader Joes! Bonus points for paying in cash

[@chaikagaz]

I used to work for target but they see what you buy and this ai data collection algorithm system saves your information and the the app will send you advertisements in the app like upselling products to you etc. This privacy invasion should be illegal but they make money off this

[@plz1277]

If I sign up for a store loyalty to get discounts I try and use the least amount of real info as possible. Many times I can just use initials as names too. I guess really anything including email accounts and anything not “official.”

[@dannydaw59]

My Kroger card has my landline phone # that I shut down around 2006 lol.

[@myoldvhstapes]

I@@dannydaw59 : Somehow I was able to get a Ralphs (Kroger) card without filling out any info. It was many years ago, so the details are fuzzy. I think I just saw a bunch of new cards on the counter and asked the employee, "Can I have one?" and I took it and walked away.

[@toddtheisen8386]

Not owning a "smart phone" looks more attractive everyday. Paying with cash as often as possible likewise. Too late for most folks though.

[@Sacto1654]

However, I don't want to carry a big wad of cash with me. Reason: if it's stolen, you're not getting it back.

[@ColoringKaria]

this is one of many reasons to have multple email addresses if you use thes same log in for everything not only is it easier to take over your life with one email hack jsut knowing your log in means they know way more about you than you think.

[@CutiePie-vo7es]

This is one of my favourite topics and very close to my heart, thanks 👍

[@budsak7771]

It's scary when you come into a place and the person, who you've never seen before, tells you it's been more than a year since you've been in. Stalker!

[@Islas_Canarias]

I haven't seen an advertisement in over 8 years now. Not on my computer, nor my phone. I don't watch TV, have no social media, use an ad blocker, only shop at two places (Aldi and my doctor's tiny chemist), never use "tap and go" but insert my card, have no loyalty cards, use one email reserved for "junk" (subscriptions, free stuff, newsletters) and a separate one for private that I do not give to anyone who isn't family. I create a new private email each year and ditch the current one to stop receiving anything that managed to creep in so they lose track of me, change my passwords every 30 days, delete cookies, turn off WiFi and location etc....have several KZbin accounts each one dedicated to one specific topic so I can ignore the algorithm by switching over if I leave comments, have no Alexa home. Yeah, try to find me.

[@ntag411]

Apps, store memberships are wanted for targeted ads and it's really getting more specific to the individual. What they don't know, I think, is your specific race, how you were raised, education and work experience. Given enough data along with the dynamics of the time and location, they'll be able to tell you what you need before you need it, IMO.

[@stevelandry6825]

WE DEMAND PAYMENT FOR OUR DATA!! THEY SELL IT TO EACH OTHER, WTF.

[@fh5kskalf]

"OOOH, a new candle!" said no one ever 😂 0:05

[@ddalgeexD]

This is what GoodRx does! So predatory for a vulnerable population.

[@langwasserkids]

What a great time to be a EU citizen!

[@uweschroeder]

Well, what companies are not allowed to do in the EU is what the government does. After all, don't steal, the government hates competition. The governments in the EU have way better means to track you than the US government. There's a reason why everything over there requires a permit or some form of document. There's a reason why they push EVs, there's a reason why they push digital currency. All designed to be controllable. The US try the same - but until now with a lot less success because the people in the US are not as willing to play along when it's the government. That's why the US government has to buy all the data from data brokers.

[@winelion1318]

There's no such thing as privacy-just the illusion of privacy.

[@CaraMarie13]

I love it when I swipe my card and immediately get the receipt in my email even though I didn't give it to them.

[@longbeach225]

When I go into store and have to use WiFi I connect to my home VPN. However, I noticed some stores and even malls are now blocking encrypted connections such as VPN so they can see your traffic. Some places I cannot even connect to VPN and I get time out error due to port being blocked. I changed the port recently and now the places that did block my VPN now its accessible. Some businesses like hotels been caught using cell jamming devices to force customers to purchase their WiFi plan then collect data from their traffic. If stores are using cameras to collect more data then the Government needs to step and stop this mess or everyone is gonna wear ski masks when they shop.

[@Tommy-rf9sw]

Government won’t do anything if there is big enough lobbying from the companies.

[@specialk9999]

Government collects data on people too so why would the government care.

[@flarethorn7833]

Giving ur personal data should ALWAYS BE OPTIONAL!

[@michaziobro5301]

I love targeted ads don’t need to look for stuff it just appears and i can buy without searching

[@Survivor58]

Without WIFI in Walmart, I couldn't use a coupon on my phone. I had to wait in the customer service. Shouldn't privacy be a fundamental right!

[@PHlophe]

you shoulda passed on that . coupon is worth nada compared to what they earn and the food they are selling they don't care about it because what you literally eat is physical advertisment that they already go money upfront for.

[@JPs-q1o]

The immediate and ubiquitous risk of your data being shared among all these retailers can be summed up in two words: price discrimination (look into it) Now these corporations get to tax you too! Why should the government get all the fun?

[@Nocebonobo]

Price discrimination (despite the name) is not always bad. It just means a company would sell everything for a price you’d be willing to pay. A lot of people already are cutting down on groceries because they’re too expensive, so if a company was perfectly price discriminating it would maybe lower those prices to increase number of buyers (if that led to an increase in overall profit). I’m against all this tracking too, but price discrimination is not the magic evil bullet you’re looking for.

[@Provocateur3]

Here's another way grocers do a big data grab: Most of them (try to) require a scan of the PDF-417 bar code on your driver's license when you buy alcohol. That code has all the info on both sides of the license, plus more. There's no legal requirement for them to do this. They just want the data.

[@Provocateur3]

P.S. if I go anywhere with my phone, it's in a faraday pouch.

[@grittykitty50]

I've NEVER scanned my driver's license when buying alcohol. I'm always asked for my birth date.

[@Provocateur3]

@@grittykitty50: I'm in WA. You?

[@scholarlyreader383]

Grocery chains need to evolve and adopt a better and efficient way to serve the customer. Adopt Amazon kiosk pick up or drive thru pick up. The traditional way of walking into a store the size of three football field is simply an old method of doing business.

[@johnsavage6628]

This is so they know what to raise the prices on. I've often wondered how one grocery store knows what another one is selling and at what price? Talk about price fixing.

[@ThraxMan84]

Loyalty programs should be illegal. Some stores send you coupons in the mail based on what you buy using your loyalty card. That is kinda freaky. They know exactly what you buy. They make it where you don't get the "sale" price if you don't have their card. Everyone should get the same sales, regardless of having a loyalty card or not.

[@dimitriberozny3729]

Pay cash and NEVER download apps!! Always opt out when you register a vehicle to give permission to the registry of motor vehicles to avoid high insurance premiums!!

[@BrooklynBound4]

I don't use any retailer's Wi-Fi, I do not share my number, email or zip code. I always request a printed receipt. The only place I have a mobile number is Shoprite and I use a VOIP number not my real number.

[@Sacto1654]

I don't use any retailer's Wi-Fi because 1) it's slow and 2) cellphone reception has gotten a lot better with 5G.

[@atiquerehman5123]

I feel like when I’m even in a possession of an iPhone and I think about some product and it pops up. I just think about it and it pops up in my iPhone for an average person. It’s weird.

[@julescote1439]

What about when you don't even leave the house, for example; having conversation with sister on phone, discussing say gabapentine. Shortly after call has ended videos about gabapentine start appearing in my video stream. This exact type of thing happens almost daily, and Im not the only one experiencing this. But the weirdest example I cannot explain, around Thanksgiving I decided to make a pot of potato soup. I had not talked to anyone on phone about it, that night videos with recipes for potato soup started coming up in my video stream? This was very perplexing😮

[@TeamFamilyDeas]

While I don’t agree with the breach of societal privacy, I would hope the collection of our data is ultimately used for good. I’d like to think that the studies and analysis provide a better understanding of human nature or at least for an innocent cause. Probably a far reach from the truth but my optimism makes me feel better.

[@uweschroeder]

Does the word "naive" mean anything to you?

[@TeamFamilyDeas]

@@uweschroeder Being hopeful and positive doesn’t make someone naive. I don’t lack discernment, understanding, or experience. I simply rather have an optimistic belief in the potential of positive outcomes.

[@uweschroeder]

@@TeamFamilyDeas You're right, being hopeful and positive doesn’t make someone naive although the one is usually the path to the other. Believing that anyone in any government or corporation has your interests at heart however is. They exclusively care about power and money.The likelyhood that those vast amounts of personal data are collected to support those two interests is infinitely higher than anyone using that information for the good of mankind or other positive outcome. The only positive outcome that will come from it is more power and money for the few who run things.

[@GNARGNARHEAD]

*walks past a billboard and an advertisement for cockrings shows up* 😳

[@Survivor58]

I recently re-downloaded the Western Union app. All of the sudden here comes the ads for Western Union. My neighbor and are chatting in person. Our cell phones are on the table. Now here comes ads based on our conversation. What's privacy safe?

[@saulalvarez220]

This is way people should pay in cash!

[@lars2894]

Jokes on them, my family has been using Adblock since 2008.

[@3066961]

well done, crew, i can super thanks this production ^/ ^

[@drunkenobservations7483]

The do a terrible job for me. I always get coupons for stuff I already have and it goes out of date before I need it again.

[@cathyeller5722]

You can do them dirty, flip it on them. Go to a website on your phone or computer and look up something wildly expensive, mine is usually emerald jewelry. You will start seeing jewelry out of your price range. It's pretty and I don't end up seeing the Hershey's candy that I might be tempted to buy. I don't take my phone with me anywhere, they always know I'm at home. As far as groceries, don't care that they know what I eat. I'm a generic buyer, no big company can get me to pay for their advertising. Just don't care who knows what about me.

[@aslamnurfikri7640]

I purposefully go to property website repeatedly so now most ads I get are selling houses

[@jewelleryaddict]

This started in the 80s grocery stores wanting you to join a loyalty program. Why? I knew was scam then, it's worse now. It's not their business what I do or where or when I shop or buy anything. To much personal information. Can see why people move out to nowhere in the woods to get away from all this crap.

[@FrankWu]

In China Grocery Store chains collect a lot consumer digital data.

[@RUHappyATM]

With the power of modern computers, I wouldn't be surprised when companies can cross-check your purchases when you pay with a CC. That's why whenever possible I pay with cash.

[@gailkettles4205]

I don’t understand why ? when I go to most stores they have empty shelves , I guess there is more to this constant monitoring !

[@phoenixr6811]

Marketing,Marketing,Marketing 🙄

[@shahzodmustafoyevtuit9262]

Very informative 🎉🎉 break a leg🎉 CNBC team

[@dangal9366]

Keep paying cash when possible. If we loose cash, then it's all over.

[@marih3286]

So if they know us from the moment we walk into the store, why can't they identify the "Thief Swarms?"

[@tonynes3577]

They know where I am and what I do. And, if I I'm shopping at a local store or if I am around the world shopping with another currency, in which case the government is tracking me. No escape.

[@mako9673]

I don't mind targeted advertising... but what DOES bother me is that when they know how I can be manipulated into doing something that I would not necessarily do without being manipulated. And they use that knowledge to get me to spend money I would not have done otherwise.

[@rosejackson3849]

That's the whole point of the targeted advertising. They're trying to entice you specifically to buy something.

[@mako9673]

@@rosejackson3849 I am not talking "entice" I am talking "manipulated". When they know enough about you, it is possible to make the advertising key on behavior traits that are more likely to make you do somehtng that you may not normally have done.

[@bonoki3870]

a version of this can be seen in the film Minority Report

[@alex82361]

What are ads

[@Elythea]

TikTok will ask you what you thought about the product advertised to you. I never answer them lol I’m like ‘SKIP’

[@johnh8705]

The stores use wifi and Bluetooth to track your information. You don't have to sign up for their "loyalty" program.

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

Of course. You're a $lave, you'll always be one, and you were from the moment you were born. Wealthy CEOs only hail from previously rich, entitled upbringings. Sure, there are *RARE* exceptions, but 99% of the world runs on uber-wealthy, elitist families.

[@uweschroeder]

How do they track you when you don't connect to their wifi and or bluetooth?

[@BrianK-zz4fk]

@@uweschroederor if you dont bring your tracking device with you?

[@ardentdfender4116]

You the consumer and all your data are the product!

[@lambertois11]

I was asking myself why so many people fall for the magic of digital world ? Then I remembered those words from the 19th-century American entertainer, Phineas Taylor Barnum : ‘’There is a sucker born every minute!’’ !!!

[@xocomaox]

The digital world is actually pretty awesome. Most people fall for videos like this that paint all this data collection in such a negative light. It even has a soundtrack to go with their narrative.

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

There's a *HUUUGE* difference. Back in the day, you didn't have to "see the show". But in 202x, show me even ONE individual who has absolutely no digital devices, no digital footprints, no computer code floating around, and no electronic assets. You can't. It's impossible. End of story.

[@lambertois11]

@@xocomaox The digital word also comes with its share of so-called influencers (paid influencers)!

[@lambertois11]

@@Novastar.SaberCombat You forgot the dark of the digital word. The exponential expansion of the digital world was done at the expense of security. The digital world has become the home of scammers, blackmail, extortion and malformation !!!

[@DragonKingGaav]

We are living in Minority Report!

[@yongchen4158]

Movie mimic real life future

[@Andre-qo5ek]

the first steps: legislation that makes ALL these data collection points an OPTIONAL , OPT-IN, program. staying opted out can not be a disadvantage to a consumers. it would be discriminatory to provide a different service or pricing to an opted-in vs opted-out opt-out as a default is absurd and coercion. loopholes that allow privacy documents to kick liability to third-parties, and shield themselves for "technically" not selling your data, is criminal 90 pages of "terms and conditions" or "privacy policies" is absurd. "Just 2% of global adults read at top level" "Some 4% of Americans (global literacy rate: 3%) have Below Level 1 literacy." "Half of Americans have basic or below-basic skills." "The average American reads at the 7th- to 8th-grade level."

[@th0rn3gaming]

This is simplified to a very large degree.

[@paultaylor7947]

I know when i find they have advertised on my smartphone screen its not really what i like to be tracked for

[@paulazemeckis7835]

Nightmare especially for me as I have identity theft going on....but I have been using an alias name since then along with office phone number. Now I know to turn off my cell phone prior to shopping. Disgusting.