US Government-funded Android phones come preinstalled with unremovable malware: Phones were sold to low-income people under the FCC's Lifeline Assistance program.

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[–]FormosaOolong 6 insightful - 4 fun6 insightful - 3 fun7 insightful - 4 fun -  (8 children)

I'm starting to think everything is a massive psyop to make people feel they can trust nothing and no one, and just slowly slide them into paranoia and despair.

[–]jamesK_3rd 5 insightful - 2 fun5 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 2 fun -  (4 children)

Perhaps a better takeaway is, (especially but not exclusively when pertaining to the government), anything that has been given to you for free might not be as free as you think. At the very least, it may not be designed for your direct benefit.

I don't think it's shocking at all. I mean the government tells institutions that accept funding which students they can discriminate against. It tells grocery stores what items do and don't qualify for WIC(food stamps). Why should it be any different for individuals who want a government subsidized cell phone/internet. They absolutely have the right to spy on them.

[–]RatherSmallPotato 3 insightful - 3 fun3 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 3 fun -  (1 child)

Something something, if it's free, you're the product.

[–]JasonCarswell 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Bingo bango.

[–]FormosaOolong 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I disagree that they have the "right". A gift is not supposed to be a trojan horse, and it's right out of the abuser's handbook to make you believe that if you accept a gift, or a service, you also accept all sorts of unacceptable things--even secret, nasty, unwanted things without your consent.

Just because the gov't has been doing the sorts of things you mentioned, does not make it correct, or their right.

I think we should ALL expect a reasonable degree of privacy, no matter if we are wealthy enough to buy it, or are in a spot where we need to accept assistance. It's a sad day when we equate need with giving up our fundamental dignity and civil/human rights.

[–]jamesK_3rd 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

First, these programs aren't "gifts" from the government.

Second, I'm operating under the assumption that many of these programs from the government come with nasty terms of service. The same kind most people just check a box without thinking that let's Google rifle through email to find ads of what you might be looking to purchase for convenience.

I generally agree with you in principle about privacy. But the government is not a supporter of that, and their help comes with stipulations, like it or not. Years ago, people turned to actual social institutions, and these actually met the needs of people at the local level . Churches, synagogues, Lions clubs, moose and elk lodge, just to name a few examples.

Most of these have fallen by the wayside now, and the masses much prefer the safety and blanket checkboxes of government assistance and "gifts", regardless of if the price is their privacy or worse, their freedom. It's that reason I'm quite pessimistic long term about the USA.

[–]JasonCarswell 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

They did that to Russia.

[–]FormosaOolong 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

They did. I knew a guy who escaped from USSR in the eighties, and he told me first hand about the horrid ways they'd push people into spying on each other. Even your neighbors, friends and family might turn you in for the tiniest infraction.

[–]JasonCarswell 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

When I lived in NYC I was primarily a senior animator, but when there were no gigs I was an art director on live-action productions. I got to know a Russian guy who had come over and was a steadicam operator. He told me all about how no one trusted anyone, everyone was corrupt, and everyone would rat each other out just to get a bit ahead - so most people didn't socialize or talk to each other. I don't know if that was par for the course, for the whole country, or just his neighbourhood, or what.

The other strong take away from him was this: He'd do any kind of work except rap videos. Too many Black guys with egos trying to prove themselves with nothing over nothing with guns a plenty. Not just too many drive-bys back then but way too much attitude that would fuck with the job, "You know who I know, bitch!"

Ironically, we worked for a Black director who did all the early Jay-Z videos (I'd never heard of Jay-Z before this in 2000 or 2001), but Jay-Z wouldn't call him back - so he was doing PSAs (public service announcements) and such, like I was, in the post-DotBomb.

(Note: In my mind I may be conflating that PSA job and a non-rap music video I art directed, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgsWsRasnoE another funny (now) but long disaster story.)