The author agrees that these companies are abusive and suggests that while legal restraints can have benefits, they can also have downsides. They note that when laws are violated, the penalties are often not sufficient to deter future violations, with companies operating in a gray area, confident they can cover any future fines with their profits. The author contrasts this with China, where they believe corporations face stronger repercussions for violations. The article concludes by suggesting that the will of the people in the US is rarely unified enough to overcome the will of corporations.
Key takeaways:
- Companies provide tools that gather data on usage, and this should not be surprising given the broadly written terms of service that often leave users with little protection beyond what the law provides.
- Many protections that the law can afford can be voluntarily given up, as seen in purchase agreements for physical properties like automobiles or RVs.
- While legal restraints can be put around companies, this is a double-edged sword with both benefits and downsides. Violations of laws do eventually catch up with companies, but the punishments are often not sufficient to prevent future violations.
- Despite criticisms of China and its regime, the author suggests that it has stronger laws when it comes to corporations violating laws and personal property and identity rights, compared to the United States where the will of corporations often overpowers that of the people.