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Jive_Bob t1_ixecy8g wrote

Is that how they knew I was looking for assless chaps?

60

mnh22883 t1_ixeeojf wrote

Meta pixel is a data mining application used by many companies to track website traffic. It was also used by some hospitals until they found out it was sending HIPAA protected PHI to facebook. I know the duty of care is on the company, but there should be some consequences for companies like facebook who are developing applications specifically to data mine sensitive or protected information.

412

bandit69 t1_ixeeseg wrote

Replying to JohnPlayerSpecia1 (#620,694)

Yeah. If you don't consent, you can't use their software - just like every other software company out there. And if you do consent, you're basically giving away whatever personal information they can gather.

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Chromosis t1_ixego1d wrote

Good thing we just killed the American Data Privacy and Protection Act in Congress because California had to be stuck up about preemption.

If the U.S. was on an opt-in model for consent, as opposed to the bass-ackwards opt-out model we use now, this would not have been possible. If someone wants to run for political office on privacy alone using shit like this as examples of why they need to be elected, they could probably pull off a win.

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Actual__Wizard t1_ixehohi wrote

This is disgusting. All of the companies involved should be fined into bankruptcy.

194

phunky_1 OP t1_ixei8zz wrote

Replying to WaveMyGenitalsAtYou (#621,209)

It doesn't matter if you have a Facebook account or not.

They are giving the information like your name, the names of your spouse and dependents, how much money you earn, etc. to Facebook, who in turn likely sells it to other companies.

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sweetpeapickle t1_ixeiyw8 wrote

That's delightful. Of course we still have to pay our taxes in full.

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Big___TTT t1_ixenm5h wrote

Only way H&R Block has been able to stay in business is selling your data

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BigSquiby t1_ixeodgj wrote

This can't be real...please tell me this isn't real....

2

zer1223 t1_ixeogtn wrote

Replying to bandit69 (#620,917)

And when they all are asking to send your financial information to Facebook for no good reason you're entirely fucked. But hey you consented and at the end of the day, isn't that what really matters? Forget making sure that money can't control our lives, that's a silly ideal

34

JustAPerspective t1_ixep3my wrote

Replying to Actual__Wizard (#621,216)

When's the last time that actually happened, even over multiple losses of life?

From big pharma to Boeing to auto industry to big oil literally poisoning the planet, we can't think of an example since Southwestern Bell's 1983 Divestiture Decree.

72

WaveMyGenitalsAtYou t1_ixepd9y wrote

Replying to Penguinase (#621,925)

I suppose not, if you also use tax prep software.

And God only knows how many other sleazy platforms and organizations grease Zuckerberg's palm with data.

But if people stopped using the goddamned thing, he'd have no leverage, would he?

−4

ParkingGarlic4699 t1_ixepkws wrote

I mean are we really that surprised by any of this stuff anymore? I feel like half the stuff corps do with our info would be deemed illegal.

4

TumblrInGarbage t1_ixeqncl wrote

Very cool that FreeTaxUSA aka TaxHawk was not listed in this article.

194

Actual__Wizard t1_ixer6kt wrote

Replying to JustAPerspective (#621,955)

>When's the last time that actually happened, even over multiple losses of life?

It needs to start happening until companies stop stealing from their employees and screwing over their customers. We are at a point now where these types of things are common occurrences and it's beyond ridiculous.

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HardlyDecent t1_ixeswob wrote

You know. I kind of wish they wouldn't do that.

5

Suntree t1_ixeucgc wrote

I wonder if for me it just says poor, or maybe it is just a bunch of zeros.

1

WinoWithAKnife t1_ixeuspa wrote

As always whenever taxes come up, shout out to VITA/TCE for providing free tax preparation for low-to-middle-income earners and seniors. If you're looking for something fun to do, now is the time to get in touch with your local program about volunteering!

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spacepeenuts t1_ixevmsm wrote

Facebook, no big shocker there. I wouldn’t be surprised if they leaked my own nudes.

6

Key_Worth t1_ixevqsm wrote

Intuit must burn down. And all the politicians and lobbyists attached to them. Burn. Them. Down.

11

Jugales t1_ixex3al wrote

Replying to Chromosis (#621,113)

Sadly I don't think you could win only on privacy protection because the average American doesn't understand it. They hear their data is being sold and that is so vague, they don't care. And if you explain deeper, you lose their attention.

23

jared555 t1_ixf20xw wrote

Replying to bsd8andahalf_1 (#620,627)

Sounds like it is the code that allows them to track site usage data was used without considering the consequences... Probably not legal but not necessarily malicious intent.

8

ericchen t1_ixf23ly wrote

Replying to SnarkLobster (#622,096)

I already expect all my info to be shared and sold. It’s hard to live off the grid these days unless if youre that crazy extended family member with a cabin in the woods.

12

phunky_1 OP t1_ixf2qq8 wrote

Replying to 90daylimitedwarranty (#623,078)

It doesn't matter if you are a Facebook user or not.

They are still giving them the information such as your spouses name, dependents names, how much income you made, etc.

They can then presumably turn around and sell that information to other entities that they have a business relationship with.

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OrganicPrinciple130 t1_ixf3zlw wrote

Well they set up the pixel to do that, its not like facebook did it, the people controlling the website did this. Facebook gave them tools, they misused it?

4

mces97 t1_ixf542i wrote

Replying to zer1223 (#621,886)

Is there really fine print on Facebook's user agreement that says they can access my fucking bank records? Cause if there is, please someone point it out, so I can email some congressmembers.

−1

FerociousGiraffe t1_ixf6dna wrote

Replying to Key_Worth (#622,574)

I don’t necessarily disagree but I am curious why you are latching onto Intuit when they aren’t really focus of the article and unlike the others mentioned weren’t giving Facebook any financial data.

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NZNzven t1_ixf713r wrote

Facebook: "Hey financial services agency can you tell me about your customers?" Agency:"why?" Facebook: " I'll pay you tons of money " Agency: "Fantastic"

1

supercyberlurker t1_ixf826i wrote

Just more reasons I despise Zuckerburg.

At least most people are aware now that Meta and their Metaverse are a trap.

5

bp92009 t1_ixf9a8q wrote

Replying to Lambo256 (#623,555)

And what's going to happen to them?

If the penalty for activity like this is not bigger than the profits generated, they're going to keep doing it.

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Chromosis t1_ixf9jhs wrote

Replying to sixfootskunkplant (#623,860)

Wonderful argument against the video rental privacy act that was passed because every senator shat themselves when bourke's rental history (which was boring westerns) was found easily and they didn't want to reveal what version of big-booties 8 they were renting.

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jakeandcupcakes t1_ixf9s4n wrote

Replying to gangbusters_dela (#622,217)

The fact is most people don't give a fuck. A few weeks back I tried to explain all this shit to someone on reddit, and they just mocked me and said I was wasting their time. It's hopeless, when the average person doesn't give two shits about their privacy, well, what the fuck can you do? These people are imbeciles.

EDIT: Link to the comment chain conversation I had with a random redditor about why they should care about their privacy.

I see this chucklefucks sentiment all over the web and IRL. Morons will be the death of us all.

117

Pootertron_ t1_ixfa1nc wrote

When the hell can we expect some trust busting to happen?tax the ever living shit out of these fucks

2

in-game_sext t1_ixfa9q0 wrote

Replying to sweetpeapickle (#621,377)

I've never understood why the government in the US can't be like any other normal government on the planet and just tell us what we owe in taxes, we have to play a little fucking game with them about it with all this guessing and tabulating and refunds or additional money due. It's insane.

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trollsmurf t1_ixfd1mp wrote

"to deliver a better customer experience"

That's a BS argument, and very dishonest and opaque. It seems the companies don't understand the danger. Also horrible to think this is done for everyone, not just Facebook users. Even if Meta says they filter data, why trust them, and why send the info at all?

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Nubras t1_ixfezfh wrote

Replying to Big___TTT (#621,805)

Not at all true, unfortunately. Tax preparation is by far their largest source of revenue. Not sure where the sale of this data might fall, I’d suspect “other”, but it’s not a substantial part of their business model. In case it needs to be said, I’m not defending the practice, I do object to it, but I was curious about HRB’s financials so I just took two minutes to look.
https://investors.hrblock.com/static-files/447ea4e0-030a-4978-97d4-2032556a44d0

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logicallyinsane t1_ixffs5l wrote

Replying to mnh22883 (#620,903)

The burden of liability should fall on both the service provider and the vendors who integrate the services into their products. Fines for violations should be akin to gdpr violations, a flat percentage of the annual revenue.

9

copywrtr t1_ixfgc0y wrote

Sucks, but can't say I'm surprised. Literally every company that advertises on Facebook uses the pixel. I'm sure it's getting info from banks and tons of other places too.

1

jhairehmyah t1_ixfh0l5 wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#623,135)

A quick Google search could help you from saying silly stuff my dude.

Dodd-Frank was a Wall Street reform to prevent the next great recession... and parts of it have already been gutted as overreach.

22

agenteleven11 t1_ixfh35h wrote

the whole tax refund bs game is really irritating and seems like useless fuckery. at least i get back some money every year. but it’s a hassle and paying 20%+ in deductions on every paycheck just to get some back in the wintertime just makes me feel like a toy in the hands of their wacky investment money laundering schemes. not using facebook is really one of the best decisions i’ve made this year

1

jakeandcupcakes t1_ixfiuvf wrote

Replying to Kenny__Loggins (#624,733)

Yep. Happens all the time. Fuck me for caring, right? I hope someone benifits from it, because I'm tired of trying to help. If you read a bit futher up in that comment chain, before I tried to engage him reasonably, you can probably envision exactly what this person looks like in your head. I saw a dimwitted face with dull eyes, the kind of egregiously stupid and vapid look you see in the eyes of people like Honey Boo Boo's mom.

If you've ever worked retail then you know exactly the kind of person this is; The Blanks. Only hint of life in their eyes is when their primal instincts are engaged with food, violence, or spending money on lotto tickets. I use to think they were just uneducated, and could use reason if only they knew what was going on, but some people really just don't give even a single fuck towards anything outside of their own self-serving actions and shortsighted immediate pleasures.

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galloway188 t1_ixfm977 wrote

Well if the government could only make their own tax filing site that was easy to use.

1

sowhat4 t1_ixfmwun wrote

LOL. I signed my dog (now deceased) up for 'my' FB account. Good luck for them finding out any financial info on her. Or me.

0

TerribleGramber_Nazi t1_ixfn940 wrote

Replying to jhairehmyah (#624,847)

Wow that’s an embarrassing grain fart moment. Sorry.

I was thinking the recent Roe v Wade overturn. I know the end result is right to an abortion but I thought people were saying it focuses on right to privacy but I don’t understand the legal wording and wanted to make check with those smarter and more informed than me

3

finnerpeace t1_ixfneft wrote

Replying to jakeandcupcakes (#623,983)

True but still forget the idiots. We need the protections in place for those of us who aren't idiots. If a small amount of idiots can get as powerful as they clearly have with the NRA etc, we could surely assemble those who care and put up significant pressure.

8

TheAb5traktion t1_ixfo251 wrote

Replying to jakeandcupcakes (#623,983)

I have rarely had a conversation with anyone who cares. Almost everyone I've had conversations with about privacy responds with "Well, I have nothing to hide" or "The information is out there anyways". People just do not care.

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ReallyGottaTakeAPiss t1_ixfoqxs wrote

They’re gonna be real disappointed when they look at my finances.

0

Skysr70 t1_ixfs1pg wrote

Dissolve facebook. They cannot be trusted.

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Pusfilledonut t1_ixfwxjm wrote

I had a similar “I don’t do nothing to worry bout” with a knuckle dragger relative. So I logged onto the dark web, found a Russian data broker, and bought a shit ton of his personal info including hacked DMs from Facebook. It was $60 in Bitcoin to prove a point, but watching his face as I read his love notes to an old girlfriend was priceless…(he’s married). Yeah, stupid people will be the death of us all.

2

bsd8andahalf_1 t1_ixfyffe wrote

Replying to gangbusters_dela (#622,217)

i once was going to download an app, but before i did the app privacy page showed where your data could go, and the list of companies was dozens and dozens of companies.

supposedly they didn't allow any personal identifying data to be transferred.

yeah, right.

5

jared555 t1_ixfzxu7 wrote

Replying to bsd8andahalf_1 (#626,940)

A legitimate use of the technology in theory is something like Google Analytics. You can learn how users interact with your website and make improvements based on that.

You can also decide what demographics to spend your advertising budget on if you know what to look for.

A trustworthy company would only actually store the variables necessary for that function and whatever supplemental variables the site owner requests you track. Some being necessary due to how site navigation often works.

Of course we are talking about Facebook and post "don't be evil" Google.

6

Nausved t1_ixg9c4s wrote

Replying to sowhat4 (#625,535)

You don't need a Facebook account for Facebook to acquire your data. Facebook buys your data from other companies you deal with (including websites you visit if you don't use good blocking add-ons and apps on your phone if you don't vet them well), and they can piece together further information about you based on data they have collected from your family members.

3

Nausved t1_ixga1is wrote

Replying to 90daylimitedwarranty (#623,482)

Please make sure you also use really good adblockers and script blockers, and vet your phone apps carefully. Meta has its fingers everywhere.

Encourage family members to take the same precautions, because they can inadvertently share data about you.

3

L00pback t1_ixgagn3 wrote

Replying to Anonnameaccount (#624,147)

Look at your router logs for your home. Most will show you which sites you are sending data too. It’s always googleads and facebook. I don’t have Facebook but every site that still supports them sends them data.

Edit: Pihole and Disconnect are good options for limiting what is shared. You have to dig into disconnect’s settings to completely shut off Google and Facebook. They warn you “you might get weird advertisements” but it’s better than being tracked on every site.

11

BaaBaaTurtle t1_ixgc9ch wrote

Replying to 90daylimitedwarranty (#623,482)

Geoffrey Fowler at WaPo had a whole series of articles about how even if you don't use social media or Amazon or any other big tech product, through your connections and whatever apps you do use, they can make a profile of you.

Basically the "I don't use it" is immaterial. No one in the US has data privacy

2

SnarkLobster t1_ixgdc73 wrote

Yes. Even if you are not online at all Meta has a file on you based on your face in your friend’s photos. I had a coworker constantly uploading photos. After work one day we went to a bar and after three sips of my beer her friends had commented on photos she had just uploaded. Fucking hell! Five minutes outside and I was on facebook.

1

oxero t1_ixgfg0j wrote

Replying to jakeandcupcakes (#623,983)

I run into these types all the time. It's so sad how much education has failed, no one can see past the very thin membrane of any idea. It's like they can't even dig a little deeper about what that data can even do.

7

0xB0BAFE77 t1_ixggi7k wrote

Replying to bsd8andahalf_1 (#620,627)

Because the majority of people don't give a fuck about their information or privacy.

Do you have any idea how many people use TikTok?
Supplemental question: Do you have any idea how bad that app is?
TikTok has all the information on your phone. It's not even a matter of "if they look at it". They have it.
They've admitted to it having backdoors.
They've admitted they can see and access everything.
And yet people still knowingly download and use it because...the majority of people don't give a fuck about their information or privacy.

11

bsd8andahalf_1 t1_ixggwug wrote

Replying to 0xB0BAFE77 (#628,708)

unfortunately what you say is true.

i would complain to my wife about being on facebook and how her information was being taken and she said she didn't have anything to hide.

most people think it is a fair trade to use a website for "free" in exchange for using the website.

from what i can tell, we are all doomed to be manipulated and controlled by all these data collectors.

5

drawkbox t1_ixgml9m wrote

Developers need to stop integrating Facebook SDK and tracking libs. It really is that simple. Problem is finance/marketing/management think they know how to build products and also want to steal that info.

1

jared555 t1_ixgodto wrote

Replying to bsd8andahalf_1 (#627,169)

If I remember correctly it was not long after they went public.

Private corporations have a lot more opportunities to not be evil than public corporations do. They absolutely can be evil, but there is less outside pressure to be so.

2

kielu t1_ixgvxbu wrote

I read this yesterday and couldn't believe. You guys heard of stuff like GDPR? That's why we have it in Europe

2

red2play t1_ixh06f8 wrote

Glad I left TaxAct, this is horrible!

>The Markup also found the pixel code on a tax preparation site operated by a financial advice and software company called Ramsey Solutions, which uses a version of TaxSlayer’s service. That pixel gathered even more personal data from a tax return summary page, including information on income and refund amounts. This information was not sent immediately upon visiting the page but only when visitors clicked dropdown headings to see more details of their report.

How is this legal?

1

vir_papyrus t1_ixh1rkp wrote

Replying to in-game_sext (#624,038)

Basically we have a shitload of credits, deductions, other misc scenarios. You’re also probably filing taxes with 2 or 3 or more govt’s that only sort of talk to each other. But it really boils down to the idea that people are actually more favorable to using tax policy to say let a low income family get money back for <x> reason, rather than the govt directly sending them a check. Broadly speaking Americans will support tax credits over direct govt spending. And so politically it’s easier for congress to run social programs and other economic incentives through the tax code. And they do. Combine that with a more complex tax code allowing corporations with an army of accountants to pay less, and hey here we are.

Unfortunately that means if today the IRS just sent you a form that said, “Hey Mr. In-Game_sext we got our records here and we think we owe you $1k. If you agree, sign here and mail it back”. You’re much more likely to just say fuck it and actually sign. They actually don’t know if you qualify for other things and so you’d likely be leaving money on the table. Even today it’s something like 1 in 5 people eligible for the EITC, which is typically thousands of dollars, don’t claim it. Hence we all just say fuck it and keep paying Turbo Tax their cut every year.

2

ExcellentPastries t1_ixhi8iz wrote

Replying to mnh22883 (#620,903)

In this case the article lays out pretty clearly why the issue is with the companies and not with Facebook. More or less all of the leaks come from things that the product teams responsible should have probably known better, and one comes from a distinct design choice by TaxAct that frankly looks really bad for them.

1

ExcellentPastries t1_ixhiodg wrote

Replying to Jugales (#622,703)

Ironically a lot of people in this very thread are chiming in to criticize Meta for not rejecting this data despite the article itself clearly stating how the fuck-ups are the responsibility of the offending companies.

1

Jerund t1_ixhipha wrote

At least I file taxes with cash app. I don’t see them listed.

1

ExcellentPastries t1_ixhj58q wrote

Replying to 90daylimitedwarranty (#623,078)

Part of Facebook’s product is presumably to have a concept of identity that stretches beyond whether or not you’re a user of their site. People’s identity can essentially be hashed out of some combination of their name, birthdate, and probably one or two other combinations of distinct qualities, and then marketing data for that person is then stored according to that hash. This is how they preserve anonymity, in theory.

1

ExcellentPastries t1_ixhjnto wrote

Replying to mnh22883 (#626,506)

Your reply seems to be missing the point the OP is making, which is that the information goes to Facebook because these companies have mis-configured (or in the case of TaxAct, seemingly deliberately chosen to configure) their apps to send this data. I’d be pretty surprised if Facebook’s licensing agreement for the Meta Pixel doesn’t inoculate them from misbehavior by companies collecting data.

1

legal_magic t1_ixhl7we wrote

The only surprising thing here is that Intuit (TurboTax) is not on the list of companies selling tax data.

They still sold some customer info, but the fact they weren't the worst ones is shocking. Fuck TurboTax

1

Stromaluski t1_ixhmx28 wrote

Replying to jakeandcupcakes (#623,983)

In my experience, it's not that they don't care. They (correctly) realize that there is absolutely nothing that they can do about it, so why bother being upset? That's how I feel and how a lot of my friends that I've talked about it with feel. I would 100% be in favor of privacy reform and would vote for it and all that, but I'm also not about to go live off the grid in the woods to protect myself from my data being sold.

5

Gschu54 t1_ixhu8ns wrote

>Megan McConnell, a spokesperson for Ramsey Solutions, said in an email that the company “implemented the Meta Pixel to deliver a more personalized customer experience.”

>“We did NOT know and were never notified that personal tax information was being collected by Facebook from the Pixel,”

Great hypocrisy from the poster child of supposed personal financial responsibility.

If Tax Slayer was sending less info than Dave Ramsey's crackpot derivative site that's not on tax slayer.

1

raidenbckbckfwd t1_ixhz0ab wrote

Replying to jakeandcupcakes (#625,087)

The whole "you're dumb and/or are a loser for caring!" mentality is incredibly common, I think it's sort of a self defense mechanism against actually having to think about anything beyond where the next dopamine fix is coming from.

6

BaaBaaTurtle t1_ixi88aq wrote

Replying to 90daylimitedwarranty (#632,635)

I'm not saying the tax software is how your info is out there. I'm saying if you have a phone in your pocket, your info is out there. Geo fencing is a thing.

But it's even more basic than that. If you use a credit card, information is shared about your purchases with third party advertisers. The biggest compiler of your information, whether you're on the platform or not, is Meta. (https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/08/29/facebook-privacy-monopoly/)

If you use any of those membership cards at your grocery store, your purchases are shared with third party advertisers. If you browse on your phone, that's shared with third party advertisers.

Basically anytime you go somewhere or buy something or search something, that data is tracked.

And while your doctor can't share information about you, most software doctors offices use can share your data with third party advertisers (https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/06/13/health-privacy/).

This is why the attitude of "well I don't use it so I'm okay" is so misguided. It's an illusion of control that you don't have. Even if you take precautions (don't use the apps, don't go on social media, use DuckDuckGo, browse with Tor) you're not actually preventing third parties from knowing your data. We would need our laws to fundamentally change to protect any of our privacy.

1

AlsoElSpazzz t1_ixitmx3 wrote

Replying to raidenbckbckfwd (#633,831)

Its the same anti-intillectual bent you see all over. They dont want to think, and they view people who do as some out group that looks down on them. Polticians know that and exploit it by renforcing their viewpoint and stoking more anger about it.

I try not to think about it because frankly, its too depressing.

3

JustAPerspective t1_ixiyy8v wrote

Replying to washington_jefferson (#629,570)

Ah, Mr. Forkner - welcome to Reddit.

This is called "substantiation of a point" - you won't recognize it, not having done this yourself, yet others might. This is not the only instance of Boeing's illegal & lethal acts, it is simply what's most recently available.

Long & short - you want what you're saying to be true; it is not.

For those who are suspicious of links, NPR:
[The aerospace company Boeing admitted to criminal misconduct for misleading regulators after two of its 737 MAX airplanes crashed. Despite that, the Justice Department says that the families of those killed are not victims of a crime.]

1

macgruff t1_ixjg94e wrote

The question should be… WHY TF is this still necessary? Not to go full Steve Forbes, but a standard VAT tax + a progressive curve flat tax eliminates not only the issue at hand here, but also

  • no more “filing taxes”. Mother fuckers, you (IRS) already know every cent I’ve ever made, just make the withholding tax, “the tax”
  • no more April 15th
  • eliminates loopholes and personal vs business tax bs
  • no more “forms” and allowances for billionaires to pay nothing while I have an effective rate of over 40%

Yes, I know there are many arguments against scrapping our tax code but they pale in comparison to the advantages

Oh I forgot, also… no private company then has any access to YOUR information

1

jakeandcupcakes t1_ixmza00 wrote

Replying to Trague_Atreides (#628,608)

I don't believe he actually read my, admittedly quite long, explanation in its entirety. I would say he skimmed a few paragraphs, saw something he didn't agree with, skipped the rest and went right into replying like the physical embodiment of a rotted drunken carrot.

2