they were used to figure out the maximum price that people is willing to pay for each product.
Yes, but... That's okay, isn't it? Isn't it good to know what's your customer's real demand?
Because they have given themselves the right to investigate everything and ask questions of everyone that's different.
This is why I'm such in favor of decentralization. It's the effective mean to say "fuck off" to those in power who make abuse of it. It's an effective mean to respond to politicians and ministers that "I do it better than you", in a regime where individuals must vote for representatives-- even if they want none. Decentralization, with privacy included, is like a natural, calm response to the chaos we've been all living in the last few years.