zlacker

Third party intermediaries, a.k.a. so-called "tech" companies, are a PITA. This proxying of URLs, i.e., redirecting through the intermediary's servers, is sadly commonplace, providing the intermediary with a wealth of data on what external links are followed by computer users leaving the so-called "tech" company websites. Facebook does it. Google does it with Google News. IIRC, Facebook has defended the practice as being some sort of safety measure for Facebook users. If true, that's great, but are there any legally-enforceable limits on collection of data on peoples' browsing habits in the process, or its subsequent use. Nope.

Here, we see how this redirection of external URLs can easily be used to manipulate and frustrate. Alongside of Facebook and Google's quarrels with certain governments trying to protect their news media, and subsequent removal of news for certain audiences, it's another example of so-called "tech" companies interfering with computers users' access to news. IMHO, we need to get away from using these self-interested intermediaries and start getting news directly from its sources.

To be clear, the issue IMO is not why a so-called "tech" company intermediary might interfere with computer users trying access news, it is the fact that they can.