I actually had a chat with my local MP (Canadian equivalent of Member of House of Representatives) about this. Why can't we stop companies selling our data? Yo

I actually had a chat with my local MP (Canadian equivalent of Member of House of Representatives) about this. Why can't we stop companies selling our data? You'd think it's easy: --- very clear opt-in method for having your data sold --- rejecting cannot prevent regular use of services --- heavy penalties for breaking these rules Problem is that no politician wants to touch this because --- manufacturers sell data to subsidize the product --- if they can't sell data, costs are going to shoot up --- if they do this in response to a law, they get to raise costs even more because it affects the whole industry at the same time and there's a clear scapegoat Consumers care a LOT more about their cheap, connected devices than their privacy. Because getting by your data like [2] happens to individuals, but costs affect the group. EDIT: To clarify, the MP only suggested that costs would go up and people don't care. The rest is my personal speculation.