The companies that own our data subsidize their collection of it. In other words, we get to use Facebook, Google, etc for free, and we pay them with our data instead of with money.
When you own land with oil, you need to buy/rent the equipment to drill it and deliver it. With data, all that is free for the end user.
Now the real scam are companies that both charge you to use their product and then make money off the data they collect as a result.
When you own land with oil, you need to buy/rent the equipment to drill it and deliver it. With data, all that is free for the end user.
Now the real scam are companies that both charge you to use their product and then make money off the data they collect as a result.