M Berk
@mberk.bsky.social
Ethics. Political theory. Product management. Cat pics. Privacy. Consultant. I teach stuff. Flawed mortal, fumbling toward enlightenment.
Trying to opt out of data sharing/sales in the Uber app.
It sends me to a website to log in (despite being logged into the app). In order to log in, I have to give permission to share my data with 3rd parties who may message me.
#privacy
It sends me to a website to log in (despite being logged into the app). In order to log in, I have to give permission to share my data with 3rd parties who may message me.
#privacy
September 21, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Trying to opt out of data sharing/sales in the Uber app.
It sends me to a website to log in (despite being logged into the app). In order to log in, I have to give permission to share my data with 3rd parties who may message me.
#privacy
It sends me to a website to log in (despite being logged into the app). In order to log in, I have to give permission to share my data with 3rd parties who may message me.
#privacy
@chronotope.aramzs.xyz
Hey Aram, can you explain what it means (and doesn't mean) when GPC inspector flags a site as "valid GPC spec not found"? For example, does it mean the site doesn't respect GPC, or that the attempt to respect GPC is poorly implemented, or...?
Hey Aram, can you explain what it means (and doesn't mean) when GPC inspector flags a site as "valid GPC spec not found"? For example, does it mean the site doesn't respect GPC, or that the attempt to respect GPC is poorly implemented, or...?
September 17, 2025 at 4:43 PM
@chronotope.aramzs.xyz
Hey Aram, can you explain what it means (and doesn't mean) when GPC inspector flags a site as "valid GPC spec not found"? For example, does it mean the site doesn't respect GPC, or that the attempt to respect GPC is poorly implemented, or...?
Hey Aram, can you explain what it means (and doesn't mean) when GPC inspector flags a site as "valid GPC spec not found"? For example, does it mean the site doesn't respect GPC, or that the attempt to respect GPC is poorly implemented, or...?
CVS AI is making phone calls to me about my health, or health plan, or something that I won’t be responding to.
I am the grumpy grandparent who is pissed off that technology is moving to fast, except my only ask is “for the love of god respect my privacy.”
I am the grumpy grandparent who is pissed off that technology is moving to fast, except my only ask is “for the love of god respect my privacy.”
September 9, 2025 at 12:50 AM
CVS AI is making phone calls to me about my health, or health plan, or something that I won’t be responding to.
I am the grumpy grandparent who is pissed off that technology is moving to fast, except my only ask is “for the love of god respect my privacy.”
I am the grumpy grandparent who is pissed off that technology is moving to fast, except my only ask is “for the love of god respect my privacy.”
As a visitor to the UK many years ago, it took me a think to figure out what this sign meant.
August 30, 2025 at 5:27 PM
As a visitor to the UK many years ago, it took me a think to figure out what this sign meant.
Whenever I wonder if I was ever loved, I look at baby pics and all doubt is removed. Only a kid who was profoundly adored could grin like this.
#Loveyoumomanddad
#Loveyoumomanddad
August 30, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Whenever I wonder if I was ever loved, I look at baby pics and all doubt is removed. Only a kid who was profoundly adored could grin like this.
#Loveyoumomanddad
#Loveyoumomanddad
I’m dog sitting for 36 hours starting tomorrow, and the most upsetting thing is that it’s not starting NOW.
I am scheduled to pick up the pup at 930 am tomorrow, and that’s a lifetime away.
I need this dog. And I need to see how my own bully-slash-coward cat handles the challenge.
I am scheduled to pick up the pup at 930 am tomorrow, and that’s a lifetime away.
I need this dog. And I need to see how my own bully-slash-coward cat handles the challenge.
August 30, 2025 at 12:28 AM
I’m dog sitting for 36 hours starting tomorrow, and the most upsetting thing is that it’s not starting NOW.
I am scheduled to pick up the pup at 930 am tomorrow, and that’s a lifetime away.
I need this dog. And I need to see how my own bully-slash-coward cat handles the challenge.
I am scheduled to pick up the pup at 930 am tomorrow, and that’s a lifetime away.
I need this dog. And I need to see how my own bully-slash-coward cat handles the challenge.
In which the Microsoft Authenticator app asks me to get the Microsoft Authenticator app.
After asking me mockingly for the 9000th time whether I want to stay signed in.
After the 3rd 2FA cycle.
Microsoft saps my energy so hard.
After asking me mockingly for the 9000th time whether I want to stay signed in.
After the 3rd 2FA cycle.
Microsoft saps my energy so hard.
August 20, 2025 at 4:06 PM
In which the Microsoft Authenticator app asks me to get the Microsoft Authenticator app.
After asking me mockingly for the 9000th time whether I want to stay signed in.
After the 3rd 2FA cycle.
Microsoft saps my energy so hard.
After asking me mockingly for the 9000th time whether I want to stay signed in.
After the 3rd 2FA cycle.
Microsoft saps my energy so hard.
Guernica, by Picasso. On war.
August 17, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Guernica, by Picasso. On war.
This is what greets me when I come from the underground garage into the complex. The first thing I’m aware of is a little chirp, then I see that face.
3 views
3 views
August 7, 2025 at 11:23 PM
This is what greets me when I come from the underground garage into the complex. The first thing I’m aware of is a little chirp, then I see that face.
3 views
3 views
Fullscript asking for permission to use customer’s PHI for targeted marketing, advertising, and other experiences. To share it widely with “partners.” And asking in a pile of legalese that is vaguely titled (the title being the shortest bit that is most likely to be read).
Seriously, PHI.
#privacy
Seriously, PHI.
#privacy
August 7, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Fullscript asking for permission to use customer’s PHI for targeted marketing, advertising, and other experiences. To share it widely with “partners.” And asking in a pile of legalese that is vaguely titled (the title being the shortest bit that is most likely to be read).
Seriously, PHI.
#privacy
Seriously, PHI.
#privacy
This is the grave of Thomas Hobbes. It took me two trips to England and a half dozen mini adventures to find it.
This is what Hobbes scholars do.
Eventually, I learned that it was INSIDE the church, not in the graveyard…
1/2
This is what Hobbes scholars do.
Eventually, I learned that it was INSIDE the church, not in the graveyard…
1/2
August 6, 2025 at 7:16 PM
This is the grave of Thomas Hobbes. It took me two trips to England and a half dozen mini adventures to find it.
This is what Hobbes scholars do.
Eventually, I learned that it was INSIDE the church, not in the graveyard…
1/2
This is what Hobbes scholars do.
Eventually, I learned that it was INSIDE the church, not in the graveyard…
1/2
We’re just doing the Looney Tunes playbook now.
August 4, 2025 at 9:43 PM
We’re just doing the Looney Tunes playbook now.
Wonderful article, but bad execution on compliance with privacy regulations on the @nationalgeographic.bsky.social website. Come on, please.
Sidebar: use Reader view to access content when websites won’t adhere to privacy laws.
Sidebar: use Reader view to access content when websites won’t adhere to privacy laws.
July 31, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Wonderful article, but bad execution on compliance with privacy regulations on the @nationalgeographic.bsky.social website. Come on, please.
Sidebar: use Reader view to access content when websites won’t adhere to privacy laws.
Sidebar: use Reader view to access content when websites won’t adhere to privacy laws.
Amazon just adding things to our carts now.
July 13, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Amazon just adding things to our carts now.
I asked ChatGPT to show me the location of a kidney on a human.
July 3, 2025 at 8:08 AM
I asked ChatGPT to show me the location of a kidney on a human.
23andme had just sold itself to … itself … and expects to complete the sale by July 8.
Ann Wojcicki (CEO) is the co-founder of the new non-profit that will own 23andme.
Same mission, employees, privacy policies, and more.
Ann Wojcicki (CEO) is the co-founder of the new non-profit that will own 23andme.
Same mission, employees, privacy policies, and more.
July 2, 2025 at 2:27 AM
23andme had just sold itself to … itself … and expects to complete the sale by July 8.
Ann Wojcicki (CEO) is the co-founder of the new non-profit that will own 23andme.
Same mission, employees, privacy policies, and more.
Ann Wojcicki (CEO) is the co-founder of the new non-profit that will own 23andme.
Same mission, employees, privacy policies, and more.
I applaud this goal. Here’s my orange menace.
June 16, 2025 at 4:29 PM
I applaud this goal. Here’s my orange menace.
Ok, here’s my favorite thing from today. I gotta credit @jargonmaster.bsky.social
Beach Boys singing “Shortnin’ Bread,” and an amazing set of stories about Brian Wilson’s obsession with the song.
youtu.be/nxs2mnrRgsA?...
Beach Boys singing “Shortnin’ Bread,” and an amazing set of stories about Brian Wilson’s obsession with the song.
youtu.be/nxs2mnrRgsA?...
![• Alex Chilton, the former lead singer of Big Star, recalled receiving middle-of-the-night phone calls from Wilson asking him to sing on a recording of "Shortenin' Bread"'' ("He was telling me I have the perfect voice for it").[31]
• The Monkees' Micky Dolenz said that when he tripped on LSD with Wilson, John Lennon, and Harry Nilsson, Wilson played "Shortenin' Bread" on piano "over and over again". 291
• Biographer Peter Ames Carlin wrote that Elton John and Iggy Pop were bemused by an extended, contumacious Wilson-led singalong of "Shortenin' Bread", leading Pop to flee the room proclaiming, "I gotta get out of here, man. This guy is nuts!"[32]
• Musician Alice Cooper recalled that Wilson considered "Shortenin' Bread" to be the
greatest song ever written. According to Cooper, when he asked why, Wilson responded
"I don't know, it's just the best song ever written."[33]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:d273k5em6kujiycvbbr2eogi/bafkreifxptz2pleh6g5fxofwbkqteduk3a7eniafxdujkjxbqsqnn63oyu@jpeg)
June 12, 2025 at 4:55 AM
Ok, here’s my favorite thing from today. I gotta credit @jargonmaster.bsky.social
Beach Boys singing “Shortnin’ Bread,” and an amazing set of stories about Brian Wilson’s obsession with the song.
youtu.be/nxs2mnrRgsA?...
Beach Boys singing “Shortnin’ Bread,” and an amazing set of stories about Brian Wilson’s obsession with the song.
youtu.be/nxs2mnrRgsA?...
Please enjoy this picture of my seemingly intense but actually very chill cat.
June 11, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Please enjoy this picture of my seemingly intense but actually very chill cat.
This day has been so long anticipated that I feel like it should be a holiday with an actual name.
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/06...
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/06...
June 5, 2025 at 5:52 PM
This day has been so long anticipated that I feel like it should be a holiday with an actual name.
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/06...
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/06...
I’m kind of in love with this photo of my cat.
May 28, 2025 at 3:32 AM
I’m kind of in love with this photo of my cat.
Brother Printers privacy notice - check this out.
The "Do Not Sell My Personal Information" link is blue text on a blue background.
Diabolical.
And this is on their privacy notice page, too.
The "Do Not Sell My Personal Information" link is blue text on a blue background.
Diabolical.
And this is on their privacy notice page, too.
May 27, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Brother Printers privacy notice - check this out.
The "Do Not Sell My Personal Information" link is blue text on a blue background.
Diabolical.
And this is on their privacy notice page, too.
The "Do Not Sell My Personal Information" link is blue text on a blue background.
Diabolical.
And this is on their privacy notice page, too.
Somebody on Reddit made deviled eggs
May 19, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Somebody on Reddit made deviled eggs
Here’s yet another example (LL Bean): a web form submission will be used to process an opt out, within 15 days, but data sales are happening in real-time from the website pixels that users have no control over.
How is this a legally acceptable opt out, under California law?
How is this a legally acceptable opt out, under California law?
May 5, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Here’s yet another example (LL Bean): a web form submission will be used to process an opt out, within 15 days, but data sales are happening in real-time from the website pixels that users have no control over.
How is this a legally acceptable opt out, under California law?
How is this a legally acceptable opt out, under California law?