VPNs Are Absolutely a Solution to a Policy Problem
Well allow me to retort.<p>This article is saying, basically, that the tendency of ISPs to try to monetize user data is a natural consequence of capitalism, and trying to curb that tendency with legislation is ineffectual compared to the <i>real</i> solutions (fight monopolies, and everyone use a VPN).<p>I don't buy it.  Roughly the same argument could be made about virtually any regulation.   "Corporations are incentivized to pollute, so there's no point trying to stop them.  Buy a water filter."  "People will always try to get heroin, so there's no point in restricting it.  Get some naloxone." Damn near <i>every</i> regulation is an attempt to counteract some profit-motivated tendency which is the unfortunate consequence of capitalism.  And as regulations go, user data is a lot easier to regulate than drugs or pollution.<p>"Just get a VPN" might be good advice for individuals, but it is emphatically not the society-wide solution to data privacy.  We can and should continue to fight for good legislation that protects us.