It's not a "technicality!" diogenes_atx made a very specific, false claim. Don't do that!
> we all understand that "selling data" does not literally mean exchanging money for data.
You're completely wrong there. That is exactly what it means.
If what you mean is lax security practices, or collecting data in general, just say that. There's really no need to bend over backwards to defend this.
I'm not bending over anywhere - I just disagree with you. Your opinion is not "blessed", it is just as much able to wrong as everyone elses.
They do not sell data, they willingly give it away for free - which is a form of selling data, with a price tag of $0.
Most reasonable human beings will actually say this is slightly worse than "selling" (literal) data. Therefore, I think most people would agree with me, and not with you.
In my mind it's very similar to claiming you're not a thief because you give away the stuff you take. No, you're still a thief, you just love being a thief so much you don't even do it for monetary gain. Which is... worse!
> we all understand that "selling data" does not literally mean exchanging money for data.
You're completely wrong there. That is exactly what it means.
If what you mean is lax security practices, or collecting data in general, just say that. There's really no need to bend over backwards to defend this.