Convenience Against Privacy.

The launch of Facebook Pay on the WhatsApp platform in Brazil should prompt a debate over issues of digital surveillance, user privacy rights, the role of government and legislation concerning accumulation and commercial use of big data. Companies like Facebook have been looking to open new revenue streams and expand their operations. Since they do not charge subscription fees or advertise on platforms like WhatsApp, they rely on the commercial use of data that is accumulated through such platforms, to earn revenue. Facebook Pay will charge businesses a commission, thereby opening another stream of revenue for the tech giant.

The issue with superapps is that there is a danger of a digital panopticon coming into place, which tracks far more than users would be comfortable with. Where you shop, what you shop for, who you transact with, how often, when and for what - answers to these questions along with the rest of the personal data of users that companies possess means that concerns about privacy and exploitation are not unfounded. Apps like WeChat and...

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