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bsd8andahalf_1 t1_ixec42o wrote

how can that possibly be legal?

860

poncho51 t1_ixeef0t wrote

Crooked ass politicians refusing to pass basic laws on our privacy.

690

ItIsYourPersonality t1_ixejux3 wrote

They get paid a lot of money to specifically not do anything to help us.

290

DryGumby t1_ixfs1bp wrote

You might be surprised how little it takes. It's often some low 5 figure amount.

50

GroggBottom t1_ixgduh6 wrote

The same politicians that still think Facebook is a internet service provider?

8

[deleted] t1_ixf1ha3 wrote

[deleted]

−2

jhairehmyah t1_ixfh0l5 wrote

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

TerribleGramber_Nazi t1_ixfn940 wrote

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

gangbusters_dela t1_ixerwyd wrote

Data mining is the wild west thanks to our useless politicians. Most people have no idea how much of their data is sold in this country.

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jakeandcupcakes t1_ixf9s4n wrote

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.

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Malaeveolent_Bunny t1_ixffsmk wrote

Last Week Tonight did a whole episode on privacy. It turned out people cared more when it was framed in terms of dick pics.

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Kenny__Loggins t1_ixffydx wrote

I just subjected myself to that thread you linked. What a fucking idiot. Pardon my French.

You put in a lot of effort and other people will benefit from it even if that guy won't.

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jakeandcupcakes t1_ixfiuvf wrote

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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raidenbckbckfwd t1_ixhz0ab wrote

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

AlsoElSpazzz t1_ixitmx3 wrote

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

TheAb5traktion t1_ixfo251 wrote

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.

10

finnerpeace t1_ixfneft wrote

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

oxero t1_ixgfg0j wrote

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

sunflower_love t1_ixg92rn wrote

That commenter even said they didn't care if the government put a boot on your neck? What a frickin privileged idiot.

6

Trague_Atreides t1_ixgf5kp wrote

I like that their defense was, 'I'm not a defiant, so why would I care?' Thereby completely missing the point of at least two of the paragraphs.

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jakeandcupcakes t1_ixmza00 wrote

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

Stromaluski t1_ixhmx28 wrote

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

surferos505 t1_ixgcn1e wrote

My guy maybe don’t reply to the person with a fucking essay lmao. No one’s gonna read that shit

I got annoyed just seeing how long that reply was

−4

rift_in_the_warp t1_ixh4odb wrote

It's a shame memes have ruined generations from being able to process information not in silly graphical format.

3

trollsong t1_ixfyu05 wrote

Oh please they can't "mine" data. The pick axe would damage the computer.

-aged as fuck politician

8

Formergr t1_ixh66rx wrote

Not to mention the tubes would then start leaking, too.

3

r2001uk t1_ixh7nbp wrote

Reminds me of the Zoolander scene. "The files are in the computer?"

3

bsd8andahalf_1 t1_ixfyffe wrote

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

FngrsRpicks2 t1_ixf4oh0 wrote

Something like a 60 billion a year market? I mean, i know its more than oil at this point

3

JohnPlayerSpecia1 t1_ixecv33 wrote

did you read all the fine prints? by clicking "yes", you consent to give up all your personal info.

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bandit69 t1_ixeeseg wrote

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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zer1223 t1_ixeogtn wrote

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

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mces97 t1_ixf542i wrote

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

zer1223 t1_ixf5iuw wrote

We should mail some glitter fountains to them instead. I don't think they care about email

3

AlsoElSpazzz t1_ixiu8al wrote

Thats why they make the damn things so long.

Has anyone ever sat down and read the t&c?

Ive had an easier time figuring out some legal breifs and im no lawyer.

2

bandit69 t1_ixja0ul wrote

Several years ago, a software company placed a small cash reward in their TOS. If I recall nobody collected.

1

Lambo256 t1_ixf5jls wrote

According to the article, these companies are probably breaking IRS privacy regulations.

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bp92009 t1_ixf9a8q wrote

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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RepostFromLastMonth t1_ixfa6qb wrote

There will be a sternly worded internal IRS memo for them to not do it again or else they will send a second IRS internal memo.

22

0xB0BAFE77 t1_ixggi7k wrote

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

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

jared555 t1_ixf20xw wrote

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.

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bsd8andahalf_1 t1_ixfyp6a wrote

facebook is evil

how the hell they can get websites to pass along data of users on an unrelated website is beyond all the rules of privacy.

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jared555 t1_ixfzxu7 wrote

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.

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bsd8andahalf_1 t1_ixg0m4w wrote

EXACTLY!

i wonder at what point in time google had to take down their motto "don't be evil"?

0

jared555 t1_ixgodto wrote

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

Flatline2962 t1_ixeny56 wrote

It's not but nobody will probably be punished for it.

3

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.

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SnarkLobster t1_ixeqkda wrote

This is social networking for profit 101.

Delete Meta, Instagram, etc or expect ALL your info shared and sold.

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mnh22883 t1_ixetwlk wrote

Actually, with meta pixal, it doesn't matter if you have a facebbook account or not, your sensitive data is still being sent to them via the application.

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Anonnameaccount t1_ixfbaut wrote

Exactly, they track you everywhere. If you have entered any info online, anywhere, expect it to be in some big ad firm's database.

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L00pback t1_ixgagn3 wrote

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.

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ericchen t1_ixf23ly wrote

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.

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optimaloutcome t1_ixj2se5 wrote

The rule is - if a service is free, you're not the customer, you're the product.

1

logicallyinsane t1_ixffs5l wrote

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.

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Gschu54 t1_ixhv6il wrote

I block metas domains on my DNS server. You'd be SHOCKED how many websites break.

2

ExcellentPastries t1_ixhi8iz wrote

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

Actual__Wizard t1_ixehohi wrote

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

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JustAPerspective t1_ixep3my wrote

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.

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Miss_Speller t1_ixevwuh wrote

“I’ll believe corporations are people when Texas executes one.”

Bill Moyers

Time to start treating corporations like people...

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Actual__Wizard t1_ixer6kt wrote

>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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washington_jefferson t1_ixgse1m wrote

Boeing is a great company. Engineers, airplane part specialists, and managers have absolutely zero intention to do harm. These aren't Wall Street pump and dump folks. Things happen.

−2

JustAPerspective t1_ixiyy8v wrote

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

Aazadan t1_ixexvop wrote

In this case, fining the companies with the breach isn’t enough. Need to hit Facebook as well for building and selling this shit.

5

cosmicmountaintravel t1_ixfw8ki wrote

Fines don’t go back to the people. It’s the people’s information and everyone else reaps the benefit.

3

Actual__Wizard t1_ixfzd6z wrote

>Fines don’t go back to the people.

You are missing the point.

I agree with you, but that's not what I meant in my post.

1

cosmicmountaintravel t1_ixg6732 wrote

Naw, I agree with your point- just I think that the fines should go to the people. Corporations should be paying us for our data. We should not be the product.

2

TumblrInGarbage t1_ixeqncl wrote

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

194

Jive_Bob t1_ixecy8g wrote

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

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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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Nubras t1_ixfezfh wrote

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

25

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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Jugales t1_ixex3al wrote

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.

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sixfootskunkplant t1_ixf8kk9 wrote

"If you don't have anything to hide, why are you worried about it? Checkmate, libruls."

10

Chromosis t1_ixf9jhs wrote

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.

11

ExcellentPastries t1_ixhiodg wrote

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

sweetpeapickle t1_ixeiyw8 wrote

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

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zer1223 t1_ixeone7 wrote

Maybe you'll have the option to join a class action lawsuit so that you can maybe receive a check in the mail for $2.50 or something/s

29

in-game_sext t1_ixfa9q0 wrote

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.

19

Nausved t1_ixgac8z wrote

Tax preparation is a big industry in the US. They are not incentivized to streamline it.

9

Dr-P-Ossoff t1_ixfqfzb wrote

tax time: I'm thinking of a number. If you guess it, I'll give you some of your money back. If you get it wrong I will hurt you.

7

vir_papyrus t1_ixh1rkp wrote

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

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!

20

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?

18

Skysr70 t1_ixfs1pg wrote

Dissolve facebook. They cannot be trusted.

17

Key_Worth t1_ixevqsm wrote

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

11

FerociousGiraffe t1_ixf6dna wrote

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.

14

Key_Worth t1_ixhp91s wrote

Intuit doesn’t need or want to sell their data to FaceBook, but true, it’s not specific to this article..doesn’t mean they don’t also share your private data to advertisers & their subsidiaries:

https://www.axios.com/2019/05/29/what-intuit-knows-about-you

These other websites along with Intuit need to be regulated and broken up, and their money kept out of government.

1

spacepeenuts t1_ixevmsm wrote

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

6

HardlyDecent t1_ixeswob wrote

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

5

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

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

posas85 t1_ixhjhai wrote

No one is surprised. I'm under the assumption that anytime I give it any information (phone number, email, name, etc) it's being sold.

1

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

mnh22883 t1_ixfuxzy wrote

No, the data goes to facebook. The companies were previously unaware that the data was being mined and sent to facebook.

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/healthcare-industry-meta-pixel/

2

OrganicPrinciple130 t1_ixhgych wrote

The additional data, such as income, filing status had to be added by a human... those didn't magically get added.

1

ExcellentPastries t1_ixhjnto wrote

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

90daylimitedwarranty t1_ixf0yfd wrote

What if you're not on facebook?

3

phunky_1 OP t1_ixf2qq8 wrote

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.

22

90daylimitedwarranty t1_ixf4swh wrote

Luckily I didn't use any of those tax programs and I certainly never will now.

5

Nausved t1_ixga1is wrote

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

BaaBaaTurtle t1_ixgc9ch wrote

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

90daylimitedwarranty t1_ixhnmw3 wrote

I don't use any apps either. I'm basically on reddit under a fake name. I have no real online presence of any kind.

1

BaaBaaTurtle t1_ixhockt wrote

If you carry your phone in your pocket you have an online presence.

0

90daylimitedwarranty t1_ixhok4u wrote

So somehow these tax software companies I don't use have wrecked my life because they sent my data to a social media presence I have nothing to do with because I have a phone in my pocket?

Um...okay.

1

BaaBaaTurtle t1_ixi88aq wrote

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

ExcellentPastries t1_ixhj58q wrote

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

BigSquiby t1_ixeodgj wrote

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

2

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

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

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

Suntree t1_ixeucgc wrote

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

1

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

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

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

galloway188 t1_ixfm977 wrote

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

1

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

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

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

Jerund t1_ixhipha wrote

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

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

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

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

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

Nausved t1_ixg9c4s wrote

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

ReallyGottaTakeAPiss t1_ixfoqxs wrote

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

0

WaveMyGenitalsAtYou t1_ixehlnj wrote

Don't care.

I deleted my Facebook account years ago.

−28

phunky_1 OP t1_ixei8zz wrote

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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Penguinase t1_ixeoui5 wrote

doesn't look like that stops them from getting this data

10

WaveMyGenitalsAtYou t1_ixepd9y wrote

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