Data Brokers: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
Why Hacker News recommends it
HN recommends it as an accessible overview of the data broker industry in privacy discussions.
What it is
John Oliver's Last Week Tonight segment explains how data brokers collect and sell personal information, including a stunt in which his team bought data to identify members of Congress.
Recommended by 5 HN commenters across 6 different months, 2022 to 2024.
What Hacker News said
Strong rec praveenhm · 2022-04 · on “You can now ask Google to remove your phone number, email or address from search”
Removing from google doesn't go far enough, the big culprit is the data broker. Displaying your age, is the biggest worry, among your friends circle. John oliver recently made a late night show on data brokers, threatening the congress members, must watch for anyone. [this video]
Strong rec roneoo · 2022-10 · on “Ask HN: Why do we allow Equifax, Transunion, and Experian to exist?”
To get an overview of these (toxic IMHO) companies, I strongly recommend this episode of Last Week Tonight: [this video]
Recommends thenaturalist · 2022-05 · on “European Commission prefers breaking privacy to protecting kids”
Care to share some details? When it comes to privacy invasion the EU has been a champion in curbing massively intrusive corporate practices for years now. Some of it is awful yes, but other high visibility projects have been amazing. I'm glad to be European when I look at the insanity that is the American tracking and personal data brokers industry. I recommend a recent John Oliver on this: [this video]
Recommends mixmastamyk · 2022-07 · on “Ask HN: How to deal with children's online habits?”
You may not be aware of the full extent of the problem. It's not just the "time wasting" of the old days, just ~15 years ago. Try these documentaries: - "The Social Dilemma" on Netflix - "The United States of Secrets" on PBS. - John Oliver on Data Brokers, [this video] There are others I can't remember off the top of my head. You may feel differently when you find out about companies profiting off the current (as in right now) whereabouts of your child.
Recommends mixmastamyk · 2022-08 · on “Audible feedback on just how much your browsing feeds into Google”
[this video] John Oliver is informative here, though some of his jokes fall flat on this one. It's just not a funny subject I suppose.
Recommends ethbr1 · 2024-03 · on “Auto Makers Are Selling Data on Your Driving Habits to Your Insurer”
John Oliver may be relevant to your interests: [this video] >> "I am sorry to disappoint you; we are not going to do that." >> "Why would we? When we have already done it."
Cites k4ch0w · 2022-04 · on “Meta earnings presentation Q1 2022 [pdf]”
Data collection, anti-trust and privacy policies. Right now it is the wild west and consumers have no idea what is being collected and how they are being profiled for ads. [this video]
Cites truxs · 2022-05 · on “Data broker is selling location data of people who visit abortion clinics”
John Oliver actually bought information from data broker to see if they could identify members of congress [this video]