Yes. But it is becoming increasingly difficult with "smart" or "connected" devices. Sometimes you have to fill forms to access services or agree with EULA's with abusive terms. If you disagree with the terms, you become ostracized because everybody else from your circles accepted those terms and nobody is using your open-source/decentralized/federated network or services.
You can't expect common people to be reasonable and spontaneously boycott abusive vendors. Most people are not educated enough for that. Among those who are, most don't care.
We need laws to prevent this kind of abuse so vendors can't take advantage of people who are willing to share such information even if they are knowledgeable about its implications.
My favorite suggestion for a nationwide privacy law is simple:
Clarify that all EULAs are null and void unless they have been reviewed with counsel, signed, and notarized to ensure the user understands what they are agreeing to.
If the companies want to treat them like contracts, so should the other party. Otherwise, it all stinks of duress.
I wonder if the GP is saying that you don't necessarily have to provide your real dob etc. to vendors that coerce you in this manner. I mean, don't you want to imagine a world in which you were born on Feb-29 of some suitable leap year?
It's becoming more and more difficult to do so. I can't remember the last time I bought a piece of electronics that didn't have a EULA. At this point, I half expect my breakfast cereal to come with a T&C.
You can't expect common people to be reasonable and spontaneously boycott abusive vendors. Most people are not educated enough for that. Among those who are, most don't care.
We need laws to prevent this kind of abuse so vendors can't take advantage of people who are willing to share such information even if they are knowledgeable about its implications.