After Canadian Prodding, Facebook To Change Privacy Policy

Retardical_Sam writes "Facebook has agreed to make changes to protect users' personal information on the social networking site, including the way data is accessed by third-party developers, Canada's privacy commissioner said Thursday. Canadian officials have been negotiating with Facebook since the Office of the Privacy Commissioner released a report a month ago that argued the social network breaches Canadian privacy law. Facebook agreed to make changes dealing with third-party applications like quizzes and games, deactivation of accounts, the personal identification of non-users and accounts of users who die."

Comments

When pigs fly

[Haffner]

I'll believe it when the changes are made. Facebook really doesn't like giving your rights back.

Re:When pigs fly

[Torodung]

Facebook really doesn't like giving your rights back.

Especially when they have been handed over voluntarily. Jeez. It's not like they forced anyone to give up information. ;^)

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Toro

Re:When pigs fly

[rm999]

I've actually found they are very sensitive to their public image regarding privacy. They overstep lines all the time, but they quickly retreat once the media, facebook groups, and petitions get involved.

I think they realize if they ever overstep people's comfort levels, users can leave. Social network sites are a commodity - their only value is the users. If the savvy crowd jumps ship to a higher-quality site that promises better privacy, there is a chance their friends will follow. I would argue this is the only thing that could kill Facebook at this point, however unlikely it is.

Re:When pigs fly

[RobVB]

No, but they did make people think their information would only be accessible by the friends they selected. False marketing much?

Re:When pigs fly

[Torodung]

Not false anything according the TOS I read when I signed up. It disclaims any and all liability as a condition of normal site use. You may as well be signing up to be a citizen of Facebook.

You have to read the fine print. People are dumb that way, no matter how many times folks are told, everyone ignores the fine print from time to time. Some more than others.

This includes myself. Everyone is a willing participant in their own deception once in a while. Everybody plays the fool.

Caveat emptor is the first and only rule of the cloud. Your data is effectively not yours unless it is on a machine you own or control.

That's the only reasonable expectation until there is some law that says otherwise. It's about time that Congress realized that 50+ year old telcom laws do not cut it when all that communication can be stored permanently, for little to no money. It's a game changer.

New laws are needed. Until then, maybe we should stop it with the "Barney reflex." Sharing is not always good, or even wanted. We're raising a generation of idiots who can't keep their personal lives personal, and expect it to remain that way even as they broadcast their every thought on Twitter.

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Toro

Re:Nuts!

[Fractal Dice]

Has Canada gotten so messed up that they actually believe the dead have privacy rights?

Why not? Copyright doesn't expire on death so why should privacy?

Fair trade

[EvilStein]

I'd happily give Facebook my name, address, social security number, and checking account information if they would only introduce a "HIDE ALL QUIZZES" feature.

God, I am so sick of logging into Facebook only to find the feed populated with stupid quizzes like "What type of garden tool are you?" The quizzes are far more annoying than the apps.