LinkedIn Hurries To Address Privacy Stumble

swandives writes "LinkedIn will make changes to a 'social advertising' feature that has been criticized for using members' names and photographs in advertisements on its website. Amid mounting criticism, the social networking service says it has been 'listening' to its users and 'could have communicated' its intentions with the new ad feature more clearly. As a result, it said, it will change how the advertisements appear. If a LinkedIn user 'follows' a company or service on LinkedIn, the ad feature can display the user's name and photo in advertisements for that company. LinkedIn said its goal was to deliver more useful ads, but some LinkedIn users complained it was a privacy violation, particularly because they have to opt out of the feature rather than opt in. It will be interesting to see whether the changes affect stocks, especially since the network's IPO in May, when shares closed at more than double the initial price, prompting concerns over another dot-com bubble."

Comments

This is the inherent problem with social networks

[GameboyRMH]

Any info you put into a social networking site is then at the site's mercy. The same thing happens with Facebook, they'd roll out a new feature that would expose more of your private information unless you intervened.

And social networks rely on this erosion of privacy to grow, they need you to share more info, and the easiest way to do this is to expose "private" information you've entered and then ask for forgiveness.

And this is why I've finally decided that I'll never use any kind of centralized social networking system. If I were to use any such thing, it would be something like a private instance of Diaspora that I have full control over.

A proposal

[Anonymous Coward]

Seems like the best way to nip this one in the bud is to spam linkedin with fake profiles for serial killers, terrorists, and dictators, and then follow lots of companies. "Hi, I'm Jeffrey Dahmer and I approve of this product or service."

Re:A proposal

[GameboyRMH]

Muammar Gaddafi - Looking to hire mercenaries! Previous civilian slaughter experience would be an asset.

Re:Worse than Facebook

[zget]

But that's because of the people who want to add you there. They give them your email and LinkedIn sends you the friend request as per your friends wishes. Facebook, Google+, and every other site on the internet that has invites/add friends would do the same.

Re:This is the inherent problem with social networ

[GameboyRMH]

That's not how it works...your profile could be made accessible on others just the same as it would be on a centralized service, but your information would be privately controlled so there wouldn't be any oddly convenient privacy slip-ups. Here's a quick explanation:

http://www.gizmag.com/diaspora-open-source-social-network/15098/

Re:I don't get it

[characterZer0]

The point is the same as for every social networking site. To sell your information to advertisers.

Re:I don't get it

[GameboyRMH]

LinkedIn is business-oriented networking. Facebook for business purposes.

You're supposed to have an online presence to get hired these days. I have absolutely none under my real name, and if a company doesn't want to hire me because of that, and doesn't see the irony in requiring a person with computer security knowledge to spill their private info online, well I don't want to work for them...

Fraud

[ScooterComputer]

Can we all just finally come out and state--once and forever--that the use of a person's photo and name in an *advertisement* (whether as an explicit endorsement or not, regardless of privacy policy or where the photo was uploaded, whether it was on a social network or search query) without the expressed consent of the person is a crime? At the least it strains copyright, it is a theft of service, and at most it constitutes conspiracy to commit fraud. Yes, fraud; because if a company is using my likeness without my knowledge in an attempt to create the impression amongst the people in my social circle that I endorse the advertised product or service, then that company is committing fraud upon my friends.

I don't care what the "Privacy Policy" states, criminal behavior is criminal behavior and cannot be policy'd around. Maybe these advertisers should start coming above board and offer to pay the idiots of their world for their photo and name on an opt-in, campaign-by-campaign basisthere'd be plenty of moron takers and we could use the jobs/extra income.

You have a reply!

[Kamiza Ikioi]

Dear Muammar,

Hello, I am a former associate with Brown and Burnslaufner. Recently, our main clients MPAA and RIAA have severely decreased their use of Cease and Desist orders, thus causing my downsizing at the law firm. I would love for an opportunity to work with you.

I have experience in:
- Pain and Misery
- Beating opponents into submission using legal mumbo-jumbo that keeps the courts on "our" side.
- Persuading politicians that our actions are a crisis
- Raping profits from the elderly and children

I think I would be a fine addition to your endeavor, and I hope to hear from you soon. Should you restore telecommunications, I am willing to telecommute.

Sincerely,
Charles P. Vandersnort, III

Cancelled.

[jms1]

I never really got much out of LinkedIn anyway, so when I read about this change, I just cancelled my account. One less thing to deal with.

Now we'll see if they spend the next year harrassing me to come back...