MySpace To Sell User Data

OnlyJedi writes "Hot on the news of Netflix canceling its latest contest over privacy concerns, news has spread that MySpace is going in the opposite direction. Apparently, the one-time leading social network is now selling user data to third party collection firms. From the article, the data that InfoChimps has listed includes 'user playlists, mood updates, mobile updates, photos, vents, reviews, blog posts, names and zipcodes.' InfoChimps is a reseller that deals with individuals and groups, from academic researchers to marketers and industry analysts. So if you're worried about your data on MySpace being sold off to anybody with a few hundred dollars, now's the time to delete that little-used account."

Comments

So you think its really that easy?

[arcite]

Just hit the 'delete' button and your data is safe? Too late, they got you.

Re:So you think its really that easy?

[Midnight Thunder]

The only way I can think of removing your information is to edit your profile with random information that makes sense but is generic.

How about adding some details about the people running MySpace in your profile?

Re:So you think its really that easy?

[pixelpusher220]

Reasonable suggestions, unless they also are tracking changes to accounts. In that case, they keep all the values that have ever been used. For instance, "Hey user '1@m1337' has lived in Ohio, Florida and Tijuana". Time to check for drugs!

Re:So you think its really that easy?

[Sockatume]

Better yet, poison the well. Change your account data to be complete garbage. It's going to skew their demographics and reduce the value of the data.

Re:So you think its really that easy?

[Hurricane78]

No. Removing your profile is really easy. Just edit it into a troll profile. Replace all images with the pain series, 50 hitlers / swastikas, etc. Edit all texts to the most offensive ones possible. And don’t forget to put a “song” “owned” by the biggest douche out there on your site. Something by Warner Music or the like.

Will get you deleted in less than an hour. Guaranteed. ^^

But don’t forget to “unfriend” all your friends before you do so! ;)

Re:So you think its really that easy?

[marcansoft]

I use my real name most of the time (except for throwaway accounts), because quite frankly I don't like to appear as "hiding" behind an online nickname, and names aren't exactly sensitive information. Usually the only time I'm asked my address is when I want to buy something; 99% of the other cases it's scammy/spammy/throwaway sites that I'm typing junk info into anyway. As for birth date, I tend to make that up, but not always. I'm quite a bit less paranoid than most people I know though; e.g. if you want my address (feel free to send me cool stuff :P), all you have to do is perform a WHOIS lookup on my domain.

But really, it all boils down to not using public websites for private stuff. The only website that I use that can be considered to be a social networking site is Twitter, and I use it to engage in public conversation anyway. If I want to talk in private, I use e-mail or IRC, preferably on private servers. If I put something on-line, chances are I probably want you to be able to find it.

Re:So you think its really that easy?

[Cryacin]

Creating an account to get mod points. Now THAT'S commitment!

Re:So you think its really that easy?

[chgros]

names aren't exactly sensitive information
Names are actually the most sensitive information, since that's the easiest way to identify you. It's the association of the name with whatever you used it for that's valuable, not the name in itself.

Deleting does no good

[Jessta]

I don't think deleting your Myspace account will do anything. They already have your data and you already agreed to allow them to redistribute it, just because you delete your account doesn't mean they have to delete your data. Facebook has the same agreement and will get to selling your data to the highest bidder sooner or later.

It's amazing that people will trade the labours of their mind for mere web hosting.

Re:Deleting does no good

[Chees0rz]

It's amazing that people will trade the labours of their mind for mere web hosting.

It's amazing people consider facebook and myspace as "mere web hosting;" social networks are about connectedness. I am not defending them, but you're trivializing these communities and showing your ignorance.

Re:Deleting does no good

[mpe]

Well, the cancellation page says:
"WARNING: Cancelling your MySpace account will permanently remove all of your profile information from MySpace, including your photos, comments, blog entries, videos, and your personal network of friends. This information cannot be restored. You may re-register your current email address after cancelling, but you will need to rebuild your personal network from scratch. "
Which seems to suggest that they will delete your data - assuming you're prepared to believe anything spewing from the many fetid mouths of the Murdochian Empire.

It only says that you can't get it back (in the original form) it says nothing about what the company may still be able to do with it. Even if they were actually telling lies what's likely to happen to them?

Re:Deleting does no good

[idontgno]

Social networks are about pseudo-connectedness. Yes, they facilitate (i.e., make easier) real existing connections of actual social value, but they also enable (i.e., make possible) false connections with no actual underlying social significance. Witness Facebookers who have literally 4-5 digit numbers of "friends", or who "friend" commercial and marketing entities, or who have dozens of friends they've never met IRL and never will.

Let's face it, RL is all that actually matters.

That said, it's almost impossible to trivialize those "communities" beyond their inherent triviality. Furthermore, baseless and ad-hominem accusations of ignorance is not merely defense, but fanboi-level defense, and is probably one of the few things which can make the shallow inanity of these social networks glaringly obvious.

Seriously... if you want connectedness and socialization, get out of Mom's basement. Or write a letter. You know, pen on paper? Or get together with real human beings.

Re:Deleting does no good

[Anonymous Coward]

Did you really just accuse him of ad hominem attacks and then tell him to get out of his mom's basement?

MySpace? Who cares? You should be concerned about.

[i_want_you_to_throw_]

Facebook. Obviously all that matters in any of these enterprises is that the owners make money. Facebook is hard charging and building pretty solid for the inevitable day, in the very near future is going to come when..
1. Facebook is bought by someone with DEEP pockets
2. The said purchasers looks to make money from all that data that has been amassed.
MySpace is Sunday School by comparison.

Re:MySpace? Who cares? You should be concerned abo

[Anonymous Coward]

Google won't always be owned by the original founders either...

Re:What is myspace?

[pixelpusher220]

The problem is what information will you be afraid of 10 years from now? Think Michael Phelps and his bong hits. Granted he should have been afraid of those pics *now* but for most kids it won't matter to them until they need a job that does background checks.

News Corp *snicker*

[HangingChad]

What do you expect from a company that gets a lot of its funding from Saudi Arabia? Murdoch is also investing in Saudi companies owned by the same person.

If partnering up with one of the most oppressive regimes on the planet is all in a days work, how does your personal information on MySpace rate any concern?

Funny it never dawns on a certain segment of our population that one of our major cable news sources is heavily influenced by the Saudis. That would be particularly noticeable, on topics related to climate change.

Re:Old Site

[Huntr]

When Facebook goes down, they'll do the same thing. Deleting your info doesn't help, either. As soon as you post it, they have it.

Google has far more interesting information

[perpenso]

Actually Google has far more information about individuals. The common perception that Google is a "search" company is mistaken. In truth they are a "targeted advertising" company. Search, GMail, Android, etc are ways to collect information on you and ways to deliver targeted ads. Google also delivers targeted ads to participating 3rd party web sites. Currently they do not sell profile information but if you want to list companies that are hypothetically in a position to do so in the future they certainly should be on the list.

Re:What is myspace?

[Anonymous Coward]

Thats why the smart pot smoking college kids, like me, dont

A) Take pictures of myself doing bong hits

B) Dont use facebook or there ilk

C) DONT POST STUPID PICTURES ONLINE

Shocked!

[Anonymous Coward]

Who would think that a company owned by Rupert Murdoch would do something unethical?

On a serious note, this appears to be the beginning of the end for MySpace (as if that wasn't already apparent). All Rupert Murdoch has been able to ever see was the dollar right in front of his face. I guess quality and long term value mean nothing to him.