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Facebook Axes "Beacon," Donates $9.5M To Settle Suit

Posted by kdawson on from the all-your-data-are-you-know-the-rest dept.

alphadogg sends in a Network World piece that begins "Facebook has agreed to shut down a program that sparked a lawsuit alleging privacy violations, and set up a $9.5M fund for a nonprofit foundation that will support online privacy, safety, and security. The lawsuit centers around Facebook's Beacon program, which let third-party Web sites distribute 'stories' about users to Facebook. Beacon was launched in November 2007 and less than a year later plaintiffs filed a class action lawsuit 'alleging that Facebook and its affiliates did not give users adequate notice and choice about Beacon and the collection and use of users' personal information.' ... Facebook never admitted wrongdoing but as part of a proposed settlement the company began sending notices to Facebook users this week. The settlement provides no compensation directly to users who receive the notice. Facebook users can opt out of the settlement, and should do so if they wish to pursue further legal action against Facebook related to the Beacon program. 'If you choose to do nothing and remain in the settlement class, you will be legally bound by the settlement,' a FAQ on the settlement Web site says. "By doing nothing, you will be giving up the right to sue Facebook and the other Defendants over claims related to or arising out of the Beacon program.'" Other defendents included Blockbuster, Fandango, Overstock.com, Zappos.com, and Gamefly. Neither the article nor the settlement site mentions what part, if any, they play in the settlement.

71 comments

  1. Silly by dontPanik · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It would be totally silly if someone was to sue Facebook over this.
    Yeah, they do have fault in that they didn't design Beacon better so that 3rd parties wouldn't be able to trick users, but I just feel like people want a reason to sue, sue, sue.
    I mean, it has been around for two years, and if a 3rd party site uses it, I believe that you'll notice, because it will show up in Facebook.

    And truthfully? I loved this feature. I would order out to restaurants and at the end it would be like "do you want to share this over Facebook" and I'd be like "Shit why not!" and I'd get a laugh out of my friends criticizing or commending me on my food choice.

    --
    "Computers are useless. They can only give you answers." - Pablo Picasso
    1. Re:Silly by Darkness404 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      It depends on your feelings of privacy. Myself I tend to give out a decent amount of information to my Facebook friends because the vast majority of them either A) are trusted friends or B) random strangers who I might never meet in my life. However, beacon is a bad thing for a lot of people who might need privacy or who have Facebook-stalking loved ones who may jump to conclusions. Think about it this way, you are on a business trip and decide to order at an upscale restaurant for just you because you like the food, yet your Facebook-stalking wife/girlfriend sees a beacon post about your reservation and thinks that you -clearly- are seeing someone other than her and no one would ever eat at an upscale restaurant just by themselves and clearly your business trip you are on is simply a front for you to cheat on her. And yes, stuff like this does happen. If you are lucky enough like some people (like you and me) not to have friends who don't trust you, but some people are unlucky enough to have situations like this.

      --
      Taxation is legalized theft, no more, no less.
    2. Re:Silly by nacturation · · Score: 2, Insightful

      And truthfully? I loved this feature. I would order out to restaurants and at the end it would be like "do you want to share this over Facebook" and I'd be like "Shit why not!" and I'd get a laugh out of my friends criticizing or commending me on my food choice.

      Yeah, that's cool. But what about the person who rented the DVD AIDS and HIV Answers from Blockbuster and had that rental show up on their Facebook profile without their knowledge or permission?

      --
      Want to improve your Karma? Instead of "Post Anonymously", try the "Post Humously" option.
    3. Re:Silly by Skater · · Score: 1

      And truthfully? I loved this feature. I would order out to restaurants and at the end it would be like "do you want to share this over Facebook" and I'd be like "Shit why not!" and I'd get a laugh out of my friends criticizing or commending me on my food choice.

      Yeah, that's cool. But what about the person who rented the DVD AIDS and HIV Answers from Blockbuster and had that rental show up on their Facebook profile without their knowledge or permission?

      As I understand it, you had to specifically approve each post. And if you didn't explicitly approve it, it would be ignored. At least, that's how I read FAQ #2. I never used it, never even ran into it, so I really can't say much about it beyond what I read on that site today. I agree the information sharing is annoying, but it doesn't sound like it posted info publicly automatically.

    4. Re:Silly by nacturation · · Score: 1

      As I understand it, you had to specifically approve each post. And if you didn't explicitly approve it, it would be ignored.

      You could be right -- I recall hearing it would auto-publish. Regardless, in Blockbuster's specific case there is the Video Privacy Protection Act which prevents companies from sharing a member's video rentals with other entities without explicit permission. The penalty carries a $2,500 fine per incident. Even if Facebook requires permission to publish the post, Blockbuster would have still violated this law by simply sharing the information with Facebook.

      --
      Want to improve your Karma? Instead of "Post Anonymously", try the "Post Humously" option.
    5. Re:Silly by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Time to Update the Ol’ LARP Resumé

    6. Re:Silly by djrok212 · · Score: 1

      Your post is too true. I am currently in Chicago on business and went to a very nice restaurant tonight by myself, simply because I like food. When I told my wife about it, her first comment was "Were you alone." Not 100% relevant but figured it added truth to what you are describing.

    7. Re:Silly by fwice · · Score: 1

      And truthfully? I loved this feature. I would order out to restaurants and at the end it would be like "do you want to share this over Facebook" and I'd be like "Shit why not!" and I'd get a laugh out of my friends criticizing or commending me on my food choice.

      that would have been fine. if they had asked me.

      the reason why I didn't like beacon is because it linked my facebook account and my yelp account without my consent. my facebook account was displaying my yelp reviews. the two accounts were not linked in any way [email address, openID, et cetera] except for having the same name on record.

      add in the fact that beacon was enabled as 'opt-out', not 'opt-in', means that i was unaware that there was activity on my fb account [my account is kept completely devoid of information -- all my profile has is a picture of myself found elsewhere on the web, and the city I presently live in], and it means that my profile was displaying information that I did not approve of.

      and, for the record, as a result i closed my yelp account [after purging my reviews as much as possible] and while i have kept my fb account [i'd rather have something in my name than giving someone else the ability to do so], it no longer has any value to me.

    8. Re:Silly by chimpo13 · · Score: 2, Informative

      When it started, you didn't approve anything. And I hadn't heard of beacon or what it was. It outed me on yelp reviews that I had under a different name with a different email. Mildly embarrassing since I gave a friend's restaurant an honest (read bad) review. I figured it was under a different email so I was safe. Not at all.

      --
      riding round the world on an old motorcycle
    9. Re:Silly by L33tminion · · Score: 2, Interesting

      the two accounts were not linked in any way [email address, openID, et cetera] except for having the same name on record.

      Having the same name on record had nothing to do with it. Yelp was forwarding the information to a page on Facebook, which used the cookies stored in your browser to see which account was logged in (same as how when you log in to Facebook, go elsewhere online, and then return, it knows which account is logged in and doesn't ask you to log in again).

      That aside, you've got it right. The problem with Beacon (in it's original implementation) was that it did unexpected stuff without the user's consent.

  2. I don't use these services... by PyroMosh · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I don't use myspace, facebook, etc. but perhaps someone can enlighten me. Why do people who publish info in the internet about themselves somehow feel entitled to some sense of privacy in doing so? It's counter-intuitive on it's face, at best.

    The fact that it's Facebook that was providing hooks through an API to push info out to third parties is just a matter of efficiency. If the data's there, either you have it walled off for your eyes only, (in which case, why "publish" at all?) or it's open through some method to third parties anyway.

    Why would one go publishing info about themselves that they didn't want out there?

    This strikes me as panic for panic's sake. What am I missing?

    --
    Touch everywhere, even when inappropriate.
    1. Re:I don't use these services... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Some info people choose to publish. Other info people didn't choose to publish but it was published for them, hence the problem. I use Facebook and have some info on it, but just because I visited a website I always visit doesn't mean I want my actions on that website shared with everyone who can see my profile.

    2. Re:I don't use these services... by mugnyte · · Score: 1, Interesting

        Your questions are common to this situation, but I believe it comes down to the control over the online persona, as it is used on each site individually - and sharing to another without your knowledge or permission. If you post something here on slashdot, would you want the opinions, language, tone or anything else discernible from your specific writing to be used at another site you browsed?

        The "AC" capability of the web is an ever-growing facade, so having a vendor reveal each little piece to other vendors is the next hurdle of privacy.

        At it's ultimate consolidation, something you put online would be uncontrollably linked to whatever online persona you presented elsewhere, simply from having all entities agree to share data based on IP, etc.

      So perhaps your shopping history is available to readers of your amazon reviews, your browser home page is listed in the sig of your email, or the top news sites you visit are listed in your LinkedIn profile. This would be jarring to most people.

    3. Re:I don't use these services... by StreetStealth · · Score: 1

      You don't seem to understand how Beacon worked. This wasn't some kind of cross-publishing of blog posts -- it was covert publishing of transactions you made in online stores!

      That said, even if it were only covert cross-publishing of already public information such as blogs: Did it occur to you that perhaps people choose to publish some information under their real name and some under an alias? As a hypothetical, perhaps you would like to keep your posts on a sexual health message board separate from conversations with your boss? Or would you feel "entitled to some sense of privacy"?

      --
      Your mind is clear / The things that you fear / Will fade with how much you / Believe what you hear
    4. Re:I don't use these services... by Darkness404 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Because of the separation between online and reality. For example, your Facebook is more in the reality section, you generally only accept people you know, can keep a tight control on your profile, etc. On the other hand, you have your online profiles, things such as perhaps your /. account, various online games, forums, etc. And most of the time without technical interference they stay separate. I have little doubt that someone could identify me between accounts by looking at my word choice, writing styles, opinions and such on /. but no one has any motivation to do that. In addition, there are hundreds of thousands of /. users, millions of other Facebooks, millions of MySpaces, million of blogs, etc. the odds that someone could wade through all of those without the accounts giving away the e-mail address or the accounts having similar usernames is very slim unless someone has -lots- of time on their hands. Plus, "publish" may only require one or two clicks, someone with very short access to a computer with Facebook logged in could seriously damage someone's reputation by publishing a few links that are using Facebook's API.

      --
      Taxation is legalized theft, no more, no less.
    5. Re:I don't use these services... by nacturation · · Score: 3, Informative

      Why would one go publishing info about themselves that they didn't want out there?

      Beacon was opt-out only. If you were logged in to Facebook at the same time you visited a third party site, that third party site could publish a story 'PyroMosh purchased the Deluxe 12" Ass-Ramming Dildo from Anal Enterprises' without having to ask your permission. Oh sure, you could opt-out after the fact, but only for each individual third party once they had published to your profile.

      --
      Want to improve your Karma? Instead of "Post Anonymously", try the "Post Humously" option.
    6. Re:I don't use these services... by mdwh2 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      So you think ordering something from a website - perhaps using a secure page - now counts as "publish info in the internet about themselves" and it's therefore fair game for them to broadcast that to all and sundry without your consent?

    7. Re:I don't use these services... by imthesponge · · Score: 1

      How on earth is this flamebait?

    8. Re:I don't use these services... by PyroMosh · · Score: 2, Interesting

      'PyroMosh purchased the Deluxe 12" Ass-Ramming Dildo from Anal Enterprises'

      Have you been reading my facebook? I have to remember to set that to private.

      Seriously, though I gravely misunderstood what this beacon was. I thought it was just some API hooks that would let advertisers run queries against facebook posts presumably to deliver targeted ads or some other such nonsense. I had no idea it was what it was.

      That said, from what I understand, it uses a cookie to identify one's ID. Since the cookie only contains user ID data, and logging in is not necessary, would it not have been possible (even trivial) to forge activity history for any arbitrary facebook user? As long as you know their ID, you can have them purchase the 'Deluxe 12" Ass-Ramming Dildo from Anal Enterprises' as many times as you please.

      Too bad this beacon thing isn't around any more.

      --
      Touch everywhere, even when inappropriate.
    9. Re:I don't use these services... by PyroMosh · · Score: 1

      You're right, I did misunderstand. I thought this was a technology that would allow Facebook partner companies to parse what you posted on Facebook, not a technology to allow partner companies to identify your ID on Facebook, then phone home auto-magically and tell Facebook "post this".

      That is icky. Also, counter-intuitive. I'm not sure under what scenario this would bea useful feature to have.

      --
      Touch everywhere, even when inappropriate.
    10. Re:I don't use these services... by Eskarel · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The thing is that there's a middle area between publishing nothing about yourself and publishing everything about yourself. Beacon sort of pushed a little too close to everything for some people. I use facebook to keep in touch with my friends overseas, it's useful for that purpose, and I will message them or write on their walls or whatever I deem appropriate whatever information I want to share with them. The key here is "I WANT". There are things I'm happy to publish, there are things I don't want to publish. I'm happy to announce to my friends(and pretty much everyone on my facebook is actually a real friend because I don't give a crap about friend counts IRL or on facebook) some of the events in my life I want to share with them. I don't really need them to know exactly what I bought from that on-line retailer or what I've just done in a video game. Aside from it being none of their business, I don't care what other people are doing and so I don't believe they should care what I'm doing.

      Just because some idiots share every second of their lives on facebook, or myspace or twitter or their blog or whatever doesn't mean that everyone who uses those services does.

    11. Re:I don't use these services... by hopkid · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I presume that many slashotters use facebook & are pro privacy. They see ./ as a forum to express their views and impact the social viewpoint to their favor. This is good, even though it leads to many argumentative discussions that devolve into semantic arguments. This is a form of social consciousness.

      Personally, the only thing that I can say is that sometimes I value my privacy more than my social connectivity. During these times, I tend to add content to my facebook page. At other times, I remove content from said page because of privacy concerns. And I share these concerns with my friends through discussions and debates. I do this because I have mutable convictions, as I'm constantly learning (and forgetting) things. Overall, I think facebook is useful, despite its privacy drawbacks. (I feel this way too about using gas power, despite its environmental drawbacks, even though I feel the urge to talk about its negative impacts.)

      And I guess the reason I don't mind my engaging in both sides of the coin is that in the long term, I feel my engagement allows me to bring about positive changes unattainable to those shun engagement (even though they can contribute in other ways).

    12. Re:I don't use these services... by Inda · · Score: 1

      Amusing because selecting your name > right-click > Search Google, tells us all so much. It didn't take any time. I did it because you said I couldn't.

      Do you like Fanart and eBay that much?

      --
      This post contains benzene, nitrosamines, formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide.
    13. Re:I don't use these services... by Brandee07 · · Score: 1

      After they first introduced it, there wasn't even a confirmation "post this/don't post this;" it just got posted. So the fact that I bought a pair of Heely's from Zappos.com three weeks before Christmas got posted to my Facebook, for all the world (including one boy yearing for a pair of Heely's) to see. So much for Christmas surprises, eh?

      And that's why I don't use Facebook anymore.

    14. Re:I don't use these services... by Darkness404 · · Score: 1

      Actually, with the exception of the posts mentioning me on /. , the other accounts were completely unrelated to me. Which is actually quite funny to see the many accounts with similar user names to my /. account. Especially the one on EBay from Germany, the Habbo Hotel one with an avatar that looks nothing like me, and the various fan art pages. The actual name from my account started out from a very short lived and poorly planned MMO that me and a few friends were "developing" (I use this in the loosest sense of the word, none of us knew any server-side coding, thus making the MMO part impossible) called 404 (named after the 404- File Not Found Error because none of us could come up with a good name) and each of us was going to be assigned a username with an element than 404 after it, I got Darkness404. Around the same time that we were planning this, I started coming on /. more and more so I finally decided to create an account, not knowing what else to put I put down Darkness404. As for 404 it quickly fell apart and about the only requirements of it are a few pieces of some item art we created and a few Python scripts.

      So, while it is interesting to see all the other people who picked "Darkness404" as a username, none of them but my /. account is me.

      --
      Taxation is legalized theft, no more, no less.
  3. Beacon by mugnyte · · Score: 2, Informative

    "Beacon" let a site send your personal information and activity to Facebook, so that they could post it to your friends.

    So review a movie at blockbuster, then see it offered on your fb page as a post ready to publish.

    Exchanging information in this way may or may not be legal where the user lives, but it's certainly not open and explicit.

    I'm not sure how many people this will quiet, since nobody is revealing what actual info was shared (contact info? payment info?) and what was done with it (sold?).

  4. Notification seemed like phishing by trentblase · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Did the settlement notification email set off anyone else's "phishing spider sense"? The email was sent from "root+5_-hkmdi@facebookmail.com" -- why not send it from facebook.com?

    1. Re:Notification seemed like phishing by trentblase · · Score: 1

      Ok, I realize that all facebook mail comes from facebookmail.com, but the question still stands, and the email text looked extra phishy.

    2. Re:Notification seemed like phishing by ojustgiveitup · · Score: 1

      Yes! And when I got it there wasn't much info about it online - I'm still not 100% convinced that it is real, even seeing it on Slashdot. It *screams* phishing - it's from domain that sounds similar to facebook, but isn't and it entices you to go somewhere that presumably will ask for personal information (the opt-out part). I'm not touching it with a ten foot pole until I hear more about it.

      Having said that, I *would* like to opt out of the settlement. While I don't feel that any of my privacy rights were violated by a public site where I knowingly put certain personal information, I also don't have any interest in being a part of the legal extortion perpetrated by law firms who bring class action suits against large corporations where the class gets nothing and the firm gets millions. Read the fine print - the law firm is entitled to a third of that $9.5 million that will be donated to some random non-profit (anyone have information on them??). So for those keeping score at home, law firm - $3,166,666.00, facebook users whose privacy was supposedly invaded - $0,000,000.00. Makes my skin crawl.

    3. Re:Notification seemed like phishing by NeuralClone · · Score: 1

      I never got the settlement notification (I never used Beacon) but all FB notifications typically come from a similar address. For example: notification+km-m-d_i@facebookmail.com So I'm really not sure what your point is. If you look up the facebookmail.com domain, it's clearly owned by Facebook.

      --
      find . -name "noobs" -print | xargs rm -rf && echo "pwnd."
    4. Re:Notification seemed like phishing by trentblase · · Score: 1

      Damn skippy, I demand a refund at least!

      I don't gain anything by agreeing to this settlement, and I'm too lazy to read the agreement to see what rights I'm giving up (possibly the right to sue Facebook in the event I later discover egregious Beacon-related privacy violations), so I too will be opting out.

    5. Re:Notification seemed like phishing by trentblase · · Score: 2, Insightful

      My point is that an email purportedly from Foo, that never once contains the string foo.com in body or headers, sets off my phishing alarm. While this particular email was legitimate, I think it is poor practice for Facebook to send official mail from facebookmail.com, when facebook.com, mail.facebook.com, official.facebook.com, etc. are more intuitive and save me the trouble of a whois lookup. I have this problem with Citibank as well, which tries to direct me to accountonline.com to check my credit card statement.

    6. Re:Notification seemed like phishing by mdwh2 · · Score: 1

      I don't seem to have got one of these notices at all...

  5. silly lawsuit? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    One might think it is, until you read that counsel for this lawsuit intends to collect the standard 33% fee (plus costs) for their righteous action in defense of this grand breach of privacy they committed. Nice way to earn $4mil. Way to stick up for the little guy.

  6. Legal? by Mystra_x64 · · Score: 1

    By doing nothing, you will be giving up the right to sue

    Is this legal?

    --
    Quick way to get 30% Funny 70% Troll: defend Opera browser on /.
    1. Re:Legal? by trentblase · · Score: 1

      It is common for your right to sue to lapse due to inaction. See, e.g., statute of limitations.

    2. Re:Legal? by CannonballHead · · Score: 1

      I don't know... you could sue, though, if it was illegal... ;)

    3. Re:Legal? by Trepidity · · Score: 2, Informative

      That's the entire theory of class-action lawsuits. Normal lawsuits are opt-in: the plaintiffs' attorneys can only claim to represent any plaintiffs that have explicitly retained them as representation in the case. Other plaintiffs therefore retain the right to sue separately, but unless they actually do so, they are not represented in the lawsuit. In class-action lawsuits, plaintiffs' attorneys can ask to have a class certified, and they will be taken to represent all members of the class, except insofar as members of the class opt out.

      In theory at least, this has some pros for both sides (in addition to cons, of course). For consumers, the pro is that harm that would not be worth suing for individually will still be remedied, because it's worth suing for in aggregate: so a hypothetical evil corporation that did something illegal to cause $10 of damage to every person in the United States won't get away with it. For companies, the pro is that settling a class-action lawsuit settles it for all members of the class simultaneously, except those who explicitly opt out, so they can get the complaint over with once and for all.

      --
      10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10
    4. Re:Legal? by nacturation · · Score: 1

      By doing nothing, you will be giving up the right to sue

      Is this legal?

      Class action suits are like Facebook's Beacon: opt-out only. From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Class_action:

      "Due process requires in most cases that notice describing the class action be sent, published, or broadcast to class members. As part of this notice procedure, there may have to be several notices, first a notice giving class members the opportunity to opt out of the class, i.e. if individuals wish to proceed with their own litigation they are entitled to do so, only to the extent that they give timely notice to the class counsel or the court that they are opting out."

      --
      Want to improve your Karma? Instead of "Post Anonymously", try the "Post Humously" option.
    5. Re:Legal? by mdwh2 · · Score: 1

      That would make sense if everyone in that class was receiving some of the settlement, but in fact only those who sued them are receiving anything, according to TFA. How can I give up my right to sue, because someone else sues, profits from it, when I'm not even aware of it?

      If I'm included by default, I'll have my share of the settlement. If not, then Facebook agree to pay me $1,000 unless they opt out...

    6. Re:Legal? by Trepidity · · Score: 1

      Under most U.S. states' rules for class actions, the Representative Plaintiffs (those who initiated the action and retained the attorneys) can be given something additional as a reward for initiating the case.

      --
      10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10
  7. YOU ALL OWE ME $1000 by Mr.+Freeman · · Score: 4, Funny

    If you read this post, you owe me me $1000. By doing nothing you agree to pay this money, in full, within 1 (one) business week. You must opt out of this by filling out a ream of paperwork which I will not provide you if you wish to avoid paying this money. If I do not receive this money in a timely manner, further legal action will be taken.

    Sincerely,
    Mr. Freeman.

    --
    -1 disagree is not a modifier for a reason. -1 troll, flaimbait, redundant, overrated are NOT acceptable substitutes.
    1. Re:YOU ALL OWE ME $1000 by rdnetto · · Score: 1

      That fails the consideration requirement of contract law. If you were providing a service or something of value, then it would probably have a similar legal status to EULAs (which AFAIK have not been tested in court).

      --
      Most human behaviour can be explained in terms of identity.
    2. Re:YOU ALL OWE ME $1000 by Lavene · · Score: 2, Funny

      If you read this post, you owe me me $1000. By doing nothing you agree to pay this money, in full, within 1 (one) business week. You must opt out of this by filling out a ream of paperwork which I will not provide you if you wish to avoid paying this money. If I do not receive this money in a timely manner, further legal action will be taken. Sincerely, Mr. Freeman.

      I don't want any trouble so I will comply with uttermost urgency. Please post Your name, address, date of birth, SSN, bank and credit card information. This is for identification only so we can verify You as the lawful Recipient of these founds.

      Your Humble Servant Mr Ali Issa.The Director Bank of Africa (BOA) in Ouagadougou,Burkina Faso .

  8. If I knew there was settlement money involved, by TxRv · · Score: 2, Interesting

    maybe I wouldn't have opted out as soon as I figured out what Beacon was ;-P

    1. Re:If I knew there was settlement money involved, by Trepidity · · Score: 3, Informative

      It doesn't look like there's any settlement money for normal Facebook users.

      The settlement provides that the $9.5 million will be spent on:

      • (i) setting up a non-profit Privacy Foundation
      • (ii) paying settlement-administration costs
      • (iii) paying plaintiffs' attorneys fees and expenses, plus approximately $2,000 to each of the 19 Representative Plaintiffs who initiated the suit
      --
      10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10
    2. Re:If I knew there was settlement money involved, by halcyon1234 · · Score: 1

      It doesn't look like there's any settlement money for normal Facebook users.

      The settlement provides that the $9.5 million will be spent on:

      * (i) setting up a non-profit Privacy Foundation

      So opt-out, and sue facebook yourself. If you need help, I hear there's a non-profit Privacy Foundation that has $9.5 million in their legal coffers...

      --
      UTF-8: There and Back Again
  9. That was fast by neoform · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Sounded like a bad an intrusive idea when it was launched.. glad FB only took 2 years to figure that out.. It took MS a lot longer than that to axe their passport crap.

    --
    MABASPLOOM!
  10. Relief by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Initially misread as Faceboook Axes "Bacon".

  11. Re:Fake!!! by hamburgler007 · · Score: 0

    Oops, this appears to be the wrong board. Oh well.

  12. Good trick by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    By us sending you this settlement, you agree to receive no compensation, and will be giving up the right to sue. Our clicking the send button constitutes your agreement.

    Great. It's like opting out of responsibility.

  13. Opt out of the settlement by mdwh2 · · Score: 1

    Indeed - and it would surely make sense for everyone else to opt out of this settlement, since none of us gain anything from it. At worst, there's no difference, and at best, maybe another class action from people who opt out will do better :)

    Of course, since I haven't received an email, I don't even have a clue how to opt out - I don't see how that can be legal.

    1. Re:Opt out of the settlement by maxume · · Score: 1

      You probably weren't identified as a member of the class.

      --
      Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
  14. Parent is not a "Troll" by NoYob · · Score: 2, Informative
    Another post wrongfully modded "Troll".

    Some of you with mod points really need to read the moderation guidelines.

    Here's a bullet point guide:

    Troll: someone who's posting stuff just to get a reaction out of folks.

    Flamebait: just posting shit to piss everyone off or a select group. An example, I think Slashdot has a script that looks for really stupid people and then gives them mod points. See, that's "Flamebait".

    Now off-topic would be if I posted something about Nazi Germany and their battle tanks.

    Overrated will be if I got a +5 Funny for posting, "Imagine a Beowulf cluster of Facebooks" or "In Soviet Russia, Facebooks you!"

    See?

    Now, you Troll moderators be nice and post something to back off the parent's bogus moderation.

    --
    It's NOT me! It's the meds! I'm on 1000mg of Fukitol.
    1. Re:Parent is not a "Troll" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think your definitions of Troll and Flamebait are slightly off, or at least incomplete. I define them based on the following equation: Flamebait + Off Topic = Troll.

    2. Re:Parent is not a "Troll" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      It's the digg crowd making its way onto Slashdot. They can't help themselves.

  15. FB settlement by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Seems like a phishing opportunity... fake e-mails with fake URLs to go to claim "your facebook settlement".
    Just type your Bank, Account name, Routing number, and account number here, and wait 30 days to receive "your settlement" "in the amount of $1000".... or......

    FROM: Mark Zuckerberg

    Facebook

    Dear Sir:

                    I have been requested by the Facebook to contact you for assistance in resolving a matter. Facebook has recently been party to a lawsuit. The settlements have immediately produced moneys equalling US$10,000,000, which have been transferred to a non-profit "privacy" organization located in greater Nigeria.

                    You assistance is requested as a non-Nigerian citizen to assist the Facebook in recovering certain settlement moneys. In moving these funds out of Nigeria. If the funds can be transferred to your name, in your United States account, then you can forward the settlement funds as directed by the Facebook Privacy Protection Company. In exchange for your accomodating services, the Facebook would agree to allow you to retain 10%, or US$1 million of this amount.

                    However, to be a legitimate transferee of these moneys according to Nigerian law, you must presently be a depositor of at least US$100,000
    in a Nigerian bank which is regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

                    If it will be possible for you to assist us, we would be most grateful. We suggest that you meet with us in person in Lagos, and that during your visit I introduce you to the representatives of the Nigerian Privacy Protection Company, as well as with certain officials of the
    Central Bank of Nigeria.

                    Please call me at your earliest convenience at 415-555-8000. Time is of the essence in this matter; very quickly the Nigerian Government will realize that the Central Bank is maintaining this amount on deposit, and attempt to levy certain depository taxes on it.

    Yours truly, etc.

    Mark Zuckerberg

  16. That nonprofit fund by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ... why not give 9.5M to the EFF? I'll gladly not-opt-out of that.

  17. I got this email and it's quite terse. by tonycheese · · Score: 4, Informative

    I honestly, honestly thought it was spam. In fact, I had just marked it as spam before I came over here and read about it.

    Facebook is sending you this notice of a proposed class action settlement that may affect your legal rights as a Facebook member who may have used the Beacon program. This summary notice is being sent to you by Court Order so that you may understand your rights and remedies before the Court considers final approval of the proposed settlement on February 26, 2010.

    This is not an advertisement or attorney solicitation.

    This is not a settlement in which class members file claims to receive compensation. Under the proposed settlement, Facebook will terminate the Beacon program. In addition, Facebook will provide $9.5 million to establish an independent non-profit foundation that will identify and fund projects and initiatives that promote the cause of online privacy, safety, and security.

    For full details on the settlement and further instructions on what to do to opt out of, object to, or otherwise comment upon the proposed settlement, please go to http://www.beaconclasssettlement.com./

    Please do not reply to this email.

    That was the entirety of the email. No signature, no hello, that was it.

  18. I'd have been much more impressed... by trawg · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ..if they'd just given that $9.5 million to the EFF.

    1. Re:I'd have been much more impressed... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But you gotta be certain that where the money goes is in your pocket... What better way than to start your own?

  19. 3 million+ to the lawyers by SashaMan · · Score: 2, Insightful

    If you read the settlement carefully, it says that 1/3 of the settlement goes to the lawyers. Our legal system is such a fucking scam.

    Over the past decade I've been a member of the class in about 10 class action lawsuits. The majority of the time I don't even bother to collect - filling out the paperwork isn't worth it to get a 5 dollar coupon. I guess I've sure made a lot of lawyers rich, though.

    1. Re:3 million+ to the lawyers by hopkid · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I was once amused to discover that I had been entitled to a few dollars for seeing a sony movie that was falsely advertised, as well as for buying a dvd that wasn't cropped properly. I too didn't collect on my bounty.

      To me, the purpose of such settlements isn't necessarily to benefit me, the wronged consumer, for past transgressions by the offender. It is to prevent offensive behavior in the future, which will benefit me in the future, as I won't be subject to such offenses then.

      This does seem weird, though, as the stakes are somewhat different for individuals/people, who face jail time for such offenses. If Madoff can pay off his debts, shouldn't we let him continue as a stockbroker, as long as he ensures that he will act within the confines of the law?

    2. Re:3 million+ to the lawyers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Madoff -

      Was a simple fraud, he wasn't actually buying and selling the securities he claimed to be trading in.
      The securities he did trade in, I understand were legit, just the amounts were too small to really be capable of generating the steady returns people thought they were getting.
      The SEC took the narrow view that the trades he was doing were legal and I think suggested people go chase the FBI into getting him on fraud charges. But after the uproar from the narrow view, I think the SEC is taking the wider view and prosecuting.

  20. How to opt out of the settlement by mantis2009 · · Score: 4, Informative
    To opt out of the settlement:

    10. What If You Want To Exclude yourself (Opt Out) From The Settlement? If you do not want to be legally bound by the settlement, you must exclude yourself by February 1, 2010, or you will not be able to sue, or continue to sue, the Defendants and certain other parties for the claims listed in the Settlement Agreement. To opt out, you must mail (email is not permitted) your original, signed exclusion request to: Facebook Settlement Administrator Exclusion Requests P.O. Box 6177 Novato, CA 94948-6177 Your request for exclusion must contain your name and address, be signed by you, and include the reference “Lane et al. v. Facebook, Inc. et al., Civil Action 5:08-CV-03845-RS.” Your original, signed request for exclusion must be RECEIVED on or before February 1, 2010.

  21. Re:Madoff by maxume · · Score: 1

    It would be pointless. Why choose the architect of one of the largest fraud schemes in history when you can choose from thousands of brokers that might be honest? He wouldn't have any customers.

    I guess it might be better to make him drive a cab or something, but a lot of people like the punishment aspect of prison.

    --
    Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
  22. Need some public humiliation here... by argent · · Score: 1

    If there was ever a case for a PSA, this is one...

    "Hello, I'm the president of Facebook, and I am complete idiot. It never occurred to me that ordinary people might actually use the Internet for anything other than entertainment, and so might have real life medical conditions that I would be broadcasting to all their friends without even so much as asking them. Honest, I get my secretary to do all that stuff for me, I forgot not everyone has teams of enablers to take care of the little stuff..."

  23. Re:Fake!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

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  24. Re:Madoff by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It would be pointless. Why choose the architect of one of the largest fraud schemes in history when you can choose from thousands of brokers that might be honest? He wouldn't have any customers.

    I guess it might be better to make him drive a cab or something, but a lot of people like the punishment aspect of prison.

    Unfortunately driving a cab would take him several decades to make a meaningful dent in the amount of unrecovered money he scammed. Furthermore there aren't many jobs that both offer a reasonable chance of paying-off most of his victims during his remaining years and he has capabilities to perform. He's a stockbroker, but as you say who would knowingly trust with any for of money managing? He's too old and out-of-shape for blue-collar work that might pay enough (e.g. mining or construction), and he probably won't live long enough for retraining in most other white-collar professions.

    While personally I'm much in favor efforts at reformation and restitution rather than locking-up someone and throwing away the key, there really aren't many options at this point for Madoff to earn money to repay his victims. About the only thing I can think of is writing a tell-all book about his life and crimes and donate all the royalties to a fund for the victims, and I suppose he can do that just as well regardless of if he is in or out of prison.