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>You may be thinking about this article about how Target knew that a woman was pregnant before her family knew: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3598558

"before her family knew" is a pretty low bar to clear, especially if the daughter was actively trying to hide the pregnancy (eg. by wearing baggy clothing). Moreover if we're taking the example of this specific story, where the women presumably knew she was pregnant (as opposed to the more sensational story of "Target figured out a women was pregnant before she even knew!!1!" that also makes the rounds), it's not hard to imagine how Target might be in a better position to infer her pregnancy without being galaxy brained or creepy. Take the examples given in the article:

>Take a fictional Target shopper named Jenny Ward, who is 23, lives in Atlanta and in March bought cocoa-butter lotion, a purse large enough to double as a diaper bag, zinc and magnesium supplements and a bright blue rug.



We don't know, but since the girl in question was only 14 it is believable she didn't know yet, but in that case she would be to a doctor soon after.


>The manager apologized and then called a few days later to apologize again.

>On the phone, though, the father was somewhat abashed. “I had a talk with my daughter,” he said. “It turns out there’s been some activities in my house I haven’t been completely aware of. She’s due in August. I owe you an apology.”

That quote, especially the "there’s been some activities in my house I haven’t been completely aware of" part makes me think she knew and was trying to hide it. There's also the expectation that if she really didn't know, that person writing the article would put that detail in, given how extra sensational it would make the story.


That is possible - even likely. However we still don't know which was my point.


I think that is still creepy, but that example just seems horrible?

Oh no, a woman bought lotion, a purse, and a rug. Must be pregnant!


Galaxy-brained, no; creepy, yes.


It's creepy for companies to keep track of what you buy? How do you think your Amazon order history works?


To track it? Maybe, maybe not, depends on what the conpany is, how the purchases are made, etc.

To analyze it to infer personal information? Starting to be creepy, even in the cases where tracking it isn’t.

And then use the inferred information for marketing explicitly and overtly around the inference? Definitely getting creepier.




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