For those who keep parroting that poor big-tech has to respect local cultures and laws and that there's nothing they could do, I remind you that atheists are literally considered terrorists in Saudi Arabia. So in theory, a court order could only invoke anti-terrorism as the motive and compel Google and Microsoft to hand over private conversations of suspected atheists and these companies would then say they did nothing wrong because they just complied with an anti-terrorism search warrant.

I think it might be time to advocate for individual ownership of our own ‘data’

I don’t see any good reason why our data isn’t protected under law and any attempt to monetize should be done through contracts to each person who’s data is being used and payments made to those people

Money has no smell...

Yet more proof that each and every company is willing to sell human rights. Some companies price it higher than others, but they all have a price.

Wait, so Saudi Arabia hasn't requested this data, Microsoft and Google haven't offered this data, the only reason "analysts" think they could get this data is because if they have offices there they might request the data? Lol what kind of clickbait journalism is this, why on earth would Google and Microsoft, or any tech company for that matter, risk handing over user data to any country at all and locking themselves out of every other country on earth? Get this ragebait nonsense out of here.

I can't believe I might go to Linux. It looks more appealing all the time.

...

What are phone options?

Final nail im the coffin, I'm deleting that shit for good.

They could send some white noise mixed in?

As someone who uses the internet on a daily basis, I can understand why people might be concerned about their personal information being shared with governments and other entities. However, I don't think anyone should worry too much about these recent partnerships between major tech companies and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

Firstly, both Microsoft and Google have been very clear about their commitment to protecting user privacy and ensuring that their platforms are not used for nefarious purposes. Microsoft, for example, has a strong track record of advocating for human rights and promoting freedom of expression, while Google has long standing policies on transparency and user control when it comes to data collection.

Secondly, KSA itself has made significant strides in recent years towards modernization and economic development. The country has launched a number of initiatives aimed at diversifying its economy away from oil dependence and attracting foreign investment, which includes building up its digital infrastructure through partnerships with global tech leaders like Microsoft and Google. Finally, the reality is that technology companies like Microsoft and Google operate on a massive scale, serving billions of users around the world. As such, it would be incredibly difficult for either company to monitor every single user and ensure that their data isn't being used by the Saudi government to suppress dissent or violate human rights. While it's important to keep an eye on what's happening in KSA, I believe we shouldn't let fear-mongering or sensationalist headlines overshadow the real progress that's being made there. Ultimately, I think this is a positive step forward for both parties involved, and we should all be rooting for continued cooperation and collaboration between these two giants of the tech industry and the Kingdom.

In summary, I don't think anyone should be worried about this development. It's a sign of progress and growth in the region, and I have faith that both Microsoft and Google will continue to prioritize privacy and freedom of expression as they expand their operations in KSA.