> that is actually how things work, and how they should work
I don't think so. Users simply don't have the power to negotiate these contracts. These "take it or leave it" deals are abusive. Especially since many times these platforms have network effects so strong you need to be part of them in order to not fail at life. Under these conditions, nobody can truly consent to anything. These "terms" should not even apply. Nobody even reads them, it doesn't matter what they say because it won't change the fact they need to be on Facebook because of family, work, school, whatever. They click "agree" not because they agree but because the sign up form won't submit if they don't.
So technology that lets us alter the deal is very much welcome indeed. They don't want us using this stuff but their permission is not necessary. Software is gonna interoperate with their site whether they want it or not. They should not even be able to find out that we're doing anything out of the ordinary. From their perspective, they should simply see a normal user agent issuing normal HTTP requests.
Adversarial interoperability. If they refuse to make the site work like we want it to, we'll do the work for them. This should be considered a form of legitimate self defense against their abuse.
> you need to be part of them in order to not fail at life.
Srsly? "Failing at life" would appear to mean dying.
I don't think a social media account is a matter of life and death. FB is basically a kind of entertainment, so if you don't like the T&C you can always join a sports team or a choir, or whatever.
In my country it's simply not possible to communicate effectively without WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook. If I refuse to use these things, I might as well simply ostracize myself from society. For some people, it could cost them their jobs, actually putting them at risk of dying.
> FB is basically a kind of entertainment
No. Facebook is communication, jobs, local information, even a market place with local groups where people sell their stuff. It's hard to describe just how thoroughly this company has managed to infiltrate my society and its way of life. People write pop songs about getting blocked on Instagram.
I don't think so. Users simply don't have the power to negotiate these contracts. These "take it or leave it" deals are abusive. Especially since many times these platforms have network effects so strong you need to be part of them in order to not fail at life. Under these conditions, nobody can truly consent to anything. These "terms" should not even apply. Nobody even reads them, it doesn't matter what they say because it won't change the fact they need to be on Facebook because of family, work, school, whatever. They click "agree" not because they agree but because the sign up form won't submit if they don't.
So technology that lets us alter the deal is very much welcome indeed. They don't want us using this stuff but their permission is not necessary. Software is gonna interoperate with their site whether they want it or not. They should not even be able to find out that we're doing anything out of the ordinary. From their perspective, they should simply see a normal user agent issuing normal HTTP requests.
Adversarial interoperability. If they refuse to make the site work like we want it to, we'll do the work for them. This should be considered a form of legitimate self defense against their abuse.