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Facebook Axes "Beacon," Donates $9.5M To Settle Suit
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.
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
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.
"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?).
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?
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.
maybe I wouldn't have opted out as soon as I figured out what Beacon was ;-P
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!
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
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.
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.
..if they'd just given that $9.5 million to the EFF.
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.