Things That Make You Go Hmmm - 11/07/2024
A semi-regular collection of notable tech industry developments, with commentary on what actually matters.
Privacy & Security Theater
Cloudflare's pushing back against EU anti-piracy measures, arguing they shouldn't compromise privacy and security. From TorrentFreak:
Rightsholders have increasingly used the EU and US piracy watch list consultations to argue for greater cooperation from online intermediaries. That applies to sharing of customer details, as well as more advanced “know your customer” policies.
This represents another chapter in the ongoing tension between content protection and user privacy. The proposals mirror previous DMCA-era debates, raising important questions about the balance between intellectual property rights and fundamental internet security principles.
Streaming Shenanigans
Nvidia introduces a significant change to GeForce Now's service model, implementing streaming caps rather than price increases. The Verge reports:
New GeForce Now members that sign up for the service from 2025 onward will have a cap on monthly playtime set at 100 hours. That works out to around three hours of usage every day of the month, and Nvidia says it’s putting the cap in place to avoid increasing membership prices “in the foreseeable future.”
This marks an interesting shift in streaming monetization strategies. The addition of usage caps adds another variable to an increasingly complex equation of subscription tiers, resolution limits, device limits, and concurrent streams. This complexity raises questions about the long-term sustainability of the "stream everything" model.
Password Police
Speaking of streaming, Max is joining the password-sharing crackdown parade. Also over at The Verge:
Max will kick off its password-sharing crackdown over the next few months with “very soft messaging” surrounding the change.
Wiedenfels didn’t rule out the possibility of a Max price increase, either. He said that the “premium nature” of the service leaves “a fair amount of room to continue to push a price we’ve been judicious about.” Max last raised prices across its ad-free plans in June.
This development continues the streaming industry's shift toward tighter account controls, reflecting broader changes in how services approach user authentication and revenue optimization. The streaming industry seems determined to speedrun every mistake cable TV made, just with better UI.
FTC Provides Real Review for Fake Reviews
The FTC takes action on review authenticity, ordering Sitejabber to cease certain practices. The Verge has details:
The FTC says Sitejabber “deceptively” punched up businesses’ review counts by incorporating responses to point-of-sale questionnaires asking customers to rate and review their shopping experience, before they’d actually gotten any products or services.
This enforcement action highlights the ongoing challenges in maintaining review integrity across digital platforms. While this particular case has been addressed, it underscores the broader industry need for standardized practices in user review systems.
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