The calculus on privacy is simple. Would you rather be a $4B company that used shady methods to get users, and pay a small fine; or, be a $0 company that followed all the rules right into the graveyard? All the old hypergrowth network companies used these shady tactics to get their users; now they want to solidify their moat by banning the same tactics for other companies.
I'm not saying that a company can never succeed by following all the rules--just that it's a lot less likely.
Have we learned nothing from 2008? The only thing that is going to deter white collar crimes is jail time--everything else is just the cost of doing business.
Small correction: a company that acquired capital at a $4bn valuation. As VCs are well known to shore up countless failures with few overwhelming successes, That valuation is essentially useless.
If you want a correct valuation, you'll have to wait and see what employees get for their shares.
Founders don't give a single damn about the employees. They'll be doing lines of cokes on company budget, and walk away with a fat load of cash even if it fails. VC has never been for the employees, and never will be.
I'm not saying that a company can never succeed by following all the rules--just that it's a lot less likely.
Have we learned nothing from 2008? The only thing that is going to deter white collar crimes is jail time--everything else is just the cost of doing business.