Data Brokers: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

I've been one of the people that say "I really don't care, let them go at it" but the argument "domestic abuse victim being findable on a website by her abuser" did me good. Great job exposing, arguing and even finding a solution.

If Congress passes laws that John Oliver's demanding to get passed here, then this will be hands-down the best use of HBO's money he's made so far.

John just turned into a real-life Bond villain: he's a British guy in a suit threatening the government that he's going to release sensitive information that could cause massive pandemonium if his demands aren't met.

"Anyway... sleep well!" Never thought I'd see anyone so nonchalantly blackmail the US government, but John Oliver and LWT have pulled it off 😂

John Oliver has reached the level of threatening the US government. And it only took nine seasons and seven episodes to achieve that

Let's give a round of applause to the HBO lawyers who help LWT keep these shenanigans going.

I'm not gonna lie; shower head settings that just fuckin' beat the shit out of you with solid bullets of water is actually quite relaxing, so he's got a point there.

i'm forever greatful that HBO's business model is forgiving enough to allow john oliver to do whatever without fear.

I love how John goes straight for the Nuclear option. Doesn't stage a protest, doesn't try to go before congress, doesn't start a petition...nope, he basically goes straight to elaborate attempts to legally blackmail Congress into action.

The best part about this isn't that he collected some mildly embarassing data on potential congressmen, but that he's now put this idea in the heads of millions upon millions of viewers, which it only takes one of to get serious and collect far, far more damaging data than "Haha, you clicked on Ted Cruz erotica!"

The amount of times I find myself clicking 'accept' buttons just to do basic things on any website due to it seeming like the choice being 'accept our spies, or no websites at all for you'. The classic illusion of choice.

So sickening that nothing ever came out of this. Our attention span as a collective whole is always so easily exploited.

John Oliver using HBO's money to make powerful people sweat is hands down my favorite late night talk show trope. John out here doing the lord's work.

If congress passes a law from this, they should call it "The John Oliver Privacy Protection Act" or "JOPPA" for short.

This is objectively terrifying, but the implications of this getting used in a post-Roe world is horrifying

This episode aired quite awhile ago, and I haven't seen anything happen with this information, nor have the privacy laws concerning our dated really changed. Are we ever going to get a follow up episode with whatever happened with this data he collected? It would be a smash hit.

I actually found out that my husband was about to propose to me before he even got the chance to. He bought the ring online and then a piece of mail came to the house, addressed to him, congratulating him on his engagement and trying to sell wedding party items. And while it’s mostly just a funny story we can tell people, it’s honestly insane when you consider that some random company knew about one of the biggest changes in my life before I did. All of that is to say that this episode was amazing. The team of Last Week Tonight continues to outdo themselves and I’ve never been so happy to yell “holy shit” at my screen at the end of an episode.

Whoever approves John Oliver's budget is doing a stellar job!

"John, darling, it's 2 am, what the hell are you still doing on that computer?? And don't you lie to me!" "I'll be with you in a minute, love, I'm nearly done setting up these cookies that'll help me blackmail the US Congress into doing the right thing." "... Alright, I thought you were researching pulp shower heads again."

Two years and still waiting for part 2.