Thomas Germain

@thomasgermain

I write about the internet for opinions = mine ; likes = me training an algorithm

New York, NY
Joined February 2009
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  1. Pinned Tweet
    20 Nov 2019

    Ever see an ad on a billboard that seemed a little too specific to your interests? It's no coincidence. By tracking your phone, some companies are showing targeted ads in public, the same way ads are tailored to you online. My latest for

    22 replies 277 retweets 300 likes
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  2. Retweeted
    8 hours ago

    me and the four friends that always share my articles

    1 reply 43 retweets 210 likes
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  3. Retweeted
    11 hours ago

    EXCLUSIVE: tracked down a company integrating live facial recognition into police body cameras. It’s a move that crosses an ethical boundary other companies have thus far maintained. The beta is already being tested in at least one US city.

    7 replies 70 retweets 60 likes
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  4. Mar 4

    Looking forward to the episode about the nugget curve, comparing the potential ROI on ad buys vs. nug expenditure

    i wrote about bloomberg's digital ad shitshow the only way i know how: w nuggies
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  5. Mar 4

    When I was writing about privacy practices at GoodRx, a Facebook spokesperson told me at length about all the ways they don't use health data for advertising. And yet

    1 reply 4 retweets 12 likes
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  6. Retweeted
    Feb 29

    1/ This breast cancer advocate says she discovered a Facebook flaw that put the health data of millions at risk story about & efforts to protect privacy of FB groups

    4 replies 15 retweets 34 likes
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  7. Feb 27

    Great piece on GoodRx from thought leader/influencer . Includes a deeper dive on questions like "de-identified" data, and what that means in the context of your health information.

    1 reply 11 retweets 12 likes
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  8. Feb 27

    After we published our investigation, GoodRx told Consumer Reports it will stop sharing prescription information with Facebook, but the company hasn't announced any plans to stop sending the data to Google or Braze.

    GoodRx is one of the only ways to save money on prescription drugs. But there's another bargain you're signing up for when you use the app: the company sends data about your prescriptions to the tech industry. My latest for
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    2 replies 13 retweets 25 likes
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  9. Feb 26

    The world needs more facial recognition stock images

    2 replies 4 likes
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  10. Feb 26

    look at that, four likes on this tweet. The people want you to post this! Only some of them are my coworkers.

    2 likes
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  11. Retweeted
    Feb 26

    Clearview AI had entire client list stolen in data breach - CNET

    4 replies 46 retweets 46 likes
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  12. Feb 25

    hello friends

    5 likes
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  13. Feb 25

    Tip

    3 replies 3 retweets 8 likes
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  14. Feb 25

    Thanks to , , , several doctors and other people who aren’t on twitter or don’t want to be tagged, and especially to the numerous people who took time to speak to me about their experience

    2 replies 3 retweets 12 likes
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  15. Feb 25

    These companies might have good intentions, but they’re basic response is “trust me.” Consumers have to decide for themselves whether or not they have enough clear information to do that.

    1 reply 2 retweets 5 likes
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  16. Feb 25

    At best, even after all of our testing, we only have an approximate sense of where the data is going, and vague idea sense of how it’s used—and we get paid to look into this stuff.

    1 reply 2 retweets 4 likes
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  17. Feb 25

    The companies we spoke to said your personal health information isn’t being used for targeted ads, even though it is being shared and exchanged. But if you’re uncomfortable with that, you may not have many other options in a country where we have to rely on insurance.

    1 reply 2 retweets 8 likes
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  18. Feb 25

    The problem is, GoodRx can save you a lot of money. Consumers I spoke to told me it saves them hundreds of dollars every time they pick up their medication.

    2 replies 3 retweets 10 likes
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  19. Feb 25

    HIPAA was passed in 1996, seven years before Facebook, and over a decade before the first iPhone. It wasn’t written with the internet’s data economy in mind.

    1 reply 3 retweets 10 likes
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  20. Feb 25

    Isn’t there a law that prevents this sort of thing? Nope. HIPAA, the law that protects your privacy at a doctor’s office or an insurance company generally doesn’t apply here to apps like GoodRx.

    2 replies 10 retweets 15 likes
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  21. Feb 25

    We looked up Lexapro, an antidepressant; PrEP and Erudant, used to prevent and treat HIV, respectively; Cialis, for erectile dysfunction; Clomid, for fertility treatments; and Seroquel, an antipsychotic often prescribed for conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

    1 reply 1 retweet 5 likes
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