Comment by runarberg
6 months ago
I think it is a mistake to give a company like Google the benefit of the doubt. Consumer protection is a lot like security, we should theorize the worst case scenario, and assume the company is willing to work against consumer interest if it serves their own interests.
If there exists a mundane and reasonable explanation for this, that doesn’t matter if there also exists a potential to exploit it in a way that harms consumers’ interests.
Well said. Hanlon's razor doesn't work for corporations (or with people that have already shown their willingness to do the unethical).
I actually prefer Marx’s razor over Hanlon’s: “Never attribute to stupidity that which is adequately explained by class-interest.”