I've been wanting to do a post on this topic for a really long time since I find it amusing how most of the right wingers are paranoid about their government, but have no problem with big business-oligarch crowd.
Here's the difference: government is supposed to be under citizen scrutiny. Private entities like businesses aren't--unless the government regulates them.
Russell seems a little slow on the uptake since nothing he is talking about here is secret. In fact, this stuff is all an open secret.
So, if you don't want your activities traced, you might want to get away from social media and big tech.
As Russell points out, the Internet was created by the US Department of Defence (DARPANET).
Sorry, Al Gore and Tim Berners-Lee, you can't take credit for internet.