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Facebook's Plan To Automatically Share Your Data

Giosuele sends in this excerpt from TechCrunch: "In anticipation of a slew of new features that will be launching at f8, today Facebook announced that it was once again making changes to its privacy policy. One of the biggest changes that Facebook is making involves applications and third-party websites. We've been hearing whispers from multiple sources about these changes, and the announcement all but confirms what Facebook is planning to do. In short, it sounds like Facebook is going to be automatically opting users into a reduced form of Facebook Connect on certain third party sites — a bold change that may well unnerve users, at least at first."

9 of 142 comments (clear)

  1. Tracking and XSS for the masses by xarragon · · Score: 5, Interesting

    And this comes as a surprise to anyone? The real danger is the proliferation of these services into everyday life. We already have examples of employers that demands access to prospective worker's Facebook accounts in real life. How long before you are viewed as being 'suspicious' for not having an account and sharing all your intimate details with the rest of the world? Everyone is doing it, why not you? Do you have anything to hide? I am also sure that Facebook themselves will in no way use the third-party data in order to track their users visits on other sites, would they?

    1. Re:Tracking and XSS for the masses by xarragon · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Yes, there was a case a while back where the interviewer requested to become a friend to the potential employer. I can't find the link unfortunately, but it was a female recruit that was overwhelmed by the question and answered "yes"..

  2. Re:Nooooo! by AliasMarlowe · · Score: 3, Interesting

    That's ok, you don't have any friends.

    I deleted all of my friends. At least from my Facebook account.
    Then I made all information on FB visible to friends only, and nothing accessible to applications, advertisers, etc. Then I deleted all photos, personal data, posts, and so forth. It takes a while, as Facebook has settings links for different things in several places. The account remains active, but is utterly devoid of content (even my birth date has "typographical errors"). That must make me a Facebook zombie, of sorts.

    --
    Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. - Voltaire
  3. Re:UK Data protection rules by TheRaven64 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The UK and EU data protection laws do not apply to US companies. A few UK companies use this to work around them by requiring you to give explicit permission for them to share your data with a single US company, which is then free to share your data with everyone.

    --
    I am TheRaven on Soylent News
  4. Re:facebook, myspace, friendster, orkut by DigitAl56K · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Exactly!

    Quoting the draft from TC's report:

    In order to provide you with useful social experiences off of Facebook, we occasionally need to provide General Information about you to pre-approved third party websites and applications that use Platform at the time you visit them (if you are still logged in to Facebook). Similarly, when one of your friends visits a pre-approved website or application, it will receive General Information about you so you and your friend can be connected on that website as well (if you also have an account with that website).

    Wait, Facebook, you don't "occasionally need to provide" anything. I did not ask or want you to provide "useful social experiences off of Facebook".

    P.S. THIS STINKS OF BEACON

  5. Re:Quit WHINING. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Why is it every time Facebook gets a new idea, everyone must scramble to update their settings - why not just assume people want to keep their information private?

    Because the basic purpose of facebook is to share information. An assumption that you desire privacy is counter to the idea of using facebook.

    Also its far more profitable to sell your information upfront before giving you the "opt out" choice than to only sell the information of the few people who choose to "opt in".

  6. Re:Nooooo! by AmberBlackCat · · Score: 2, Interesting

    So what's the purpose of the account?

  7. Re:facebook, myspace, friendster, orkut by jonpublic · · Score: 2, Interesting

    What if I switched to using a browser only for facebook?

    Probably won't matter because they'll find a new way to share my info.

  8. Re:info by TaoPhoenix · · Score: 2, Interesting

    That's interesting.

    Your address is in CA and your phone number is from Tennessee?
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area_code_901

    Yahoo maps says there is no Maple Ave in San Diego.

    So you are demonstrating the point of how easy it is to frame someone?

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