If it were true, then definitely it is a bothering and worrying news. I am going to great length to make sure I transact crypto anonymously (including using public networks as IP providers) but I am sure I make mistake here and there (I am even aware of some information leaks I did in the past) and I would hate to know that some agency is puting that information together to try and deanonymise me... I am quite sure that in spite of all my efforts, eventually they would be successful.
Feel free not to answer, but out of curiosity, why do you feel the need to go to such great lengths about covering your tracks?
I have to assume it's not necessarily related to illegal activities, but what difference does it make if (hypothetically), there is 'visibility' over you using Crypto X, y or Z to purchase a Steam game?
It is called Privacy. Why do organizations like Amazon need to know what your spending habits are and who are they sharing
that data with? Most people will say that it is for targeting advertising, but will you be satisfied if you bought sexy lingerie
for your partner or your girlfriend and every time you open your browser or some site, you get bombarded with sex ads?
Will they keep that data safe? Will that data be shared or sold to marketers?
Yea don't get me wrong, I get privacy concerns and specify exactly the risk of having more ad spams as a direct result of a patent/tech like this. Was just curious / making discussion, but I certainly don't use VPNs or public IPs when making all my purchases - although I certainly do use cash over credit card whenever possible.
And totally agree that this is borderline nefarious for Amazon to be reverse engineering anyone's spending habits as a means for their own gains, by no means do I support something like this.
Again, just open discussion as I'm trying to better understand the philosophy of people with different opinions.