Facebook Files For a Patent To Track Its Users On Other Sites

suraj.sun sends word that a recent Facebook patent application details specific methods for tracking its users while they're using other websites. Michael Arrington pointed out over the weekend that this follows explicit statements from Facebook employees that the social networking giant has "no interest in tracking people." Quoting the Patent Application: "In one embodiment, a method is described for tracking information about the activities of users of a social networking system while on another domain. The method includes maintaining a profile for each of one or more users of the social networking system, each profile identifying a connection to one or more other users of the social networking system and including information about the user. The method additionally includes receiving one or more communications from a third-party website having a different domain than the social network system, each message communicating an action taken by a user of the social networking system on the third-party website. The method additionally includes logging the actions taken on the third-party website in the social networking system, each logged action including information about the action."

Comments

Facebook sez:

[idontgno]

We have no interest in tracking people, and we've taken out this patent to make sure no one else can either.

See? We're your trustworthy friend! Come join our social network!

Re:Let me get this right..

[Scutter]

It's called "lying". Anymore, what companies SAY they're going to do and what they ACTUALLY do rarely have anything in common.

Re:Let me get this right..

[GameboyRMH]

The claim that they don't track users runs on CNN where all the Facebook users see it while the patent news runs on Slashdot, where the security experts who are already seen by their friends and family as tinfoil hatters see it. It's not illogical. It's a calculated lie.