- Google buying out YouTube
- Google buying out VirusTotal
- Google buying out Waze
- Google buying out Nest
- Google buying out FameBit
- Google buying out Fitbit
- Facebook buying out Oculus
- Facebook buying out Instagram
- Facebook buying out WhatsApp
- Amazon buying out IMDb
- Amazon buying out Audible
- Amazon buying out Goodreads
- Amazon buying out Twitch
- Amazon buying out Wickr
We can keep the list going. The point is ownership of data is not under your control when you use platforms that have 100% control of user data with no legal restrictions over how the data is shared during an acquisition.
Generally why digital minimalism, lowering the number of accounts, limiting genuine PII on your accounts is always a good move.
Personal note: but this is even scarier when you have an individual takeover like Musk. Musk can now view the DMs of any enemy he’s ever had - partly in thanks to Twitter never rolling our E2EE in DMs.