Google, Facebook, et al, collect data in exchange for a service. You can use incognito mode for Google, or just not use Facebook at all.
The NSA collects your data whether you want it to or not, and you have no say other than to just not create any data.
In the same way that Google has access to your data if it's in their datacenters and you use their services, the NSA assumes access to your data if it's within their abilities to get it, and they find you slightly suspicious.
It's really not the same thing and claiming it is the same thing is disingenuous.
Moxie has also pointed out that the choice is not simply "Do I want to be surveilled by Google?" or "Do I want the telco to track my every move?". It's stuff like "Do I want to stop talking to all of my friends who use GMail?". Or "Do I want to not have a cellphone and prevent myself from participating in informal social event planning?".
You were perfectly clear. You've made it clear yourself that the opt-in fiction is just that, just as the difference between corporate and government surveillance, such as it is, does not rely on any opt-in mechanism or lack thereof.
Don't give us this crap that there is a difference between the two when your point is so self-defeating.
I guess one difference is that you are relying on the assumption that Google is a bad actor. Google's actions have not shown that, and the benefit of the doubt is an important ideal.
Google, Facebook, et al, collect data in exchange for a service. You can use incognito mode for Google, or just not use Facebook at all.
The NSA collects your data whether you want it to or not, and you have no say other than to just not create any data.
In the same way that Google has access to your data if it's in their datacenters and you use their services, the NSA assumes access to your data if it's within their abilities to get it, and they find you slightly suspicious.
It's really not the same thing and claiming it is the same thing is disingenuous.