Documentation The Machine - Celestin Albers

Data Collection
To collect data from users, I devised a plan to
create a signup website with dual purposes: to
gather more data than users anticipated and to
obtain their consent to use this data as I saw fit.
First, I designed a straightforward signup page
that requested the information I wanted to collect:
the user's name, dietary preferences, email
address, and agreement to the Terms of Service
(TOS). This form was simple and could be filled in
under a minute.
Here's where a malicious trick (publicized 11 years
ago) comes into play: if the user utilized the
browser's autofill function to fill in their name
or email, the browser would send all autofill data
to me. This data included not only the name and
email but also the user's address, postal code,
country, phone number, business name, and even
credit card details.
In addition, I used the provided email addresses to
perform a password lookup through Breach Directory,
a website that lists leaked passwords. This allowed
me to gather even more personal information.
All the collected data was then compiled and fed to
an AI, which created a personalized bio /
introduction for each user. These bios were then
laser engraved onto the paper plates and sold back
to the consumers for profit.
Why would anyone sign up for this? The answer is
simple: free drinks. Dutch people, known for their
love of bargains, could never resist a deal that
includes the word "free." This incentive ensured a
high signup rate, allowing me to collect enough
data for the project.
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