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Facebook Says EU 'Right To Be Forgotten' Would Harm Privacy

Posted by timothy on from the want-to-subscribe-to-your-newsletter dept.

judgecorp writes "The European Commission has proposed a "right to be forgotten" online, which would allow users to remove personal data they had shared. The idea has had a lot of criticism, and now Facebook claims it would actually harm privacy. Facebook says the proposal would require social media sites to perform extra tracking to remove data which has been copied to other sites — but privacy advocates say Facebook has misunderstood what the proposal is all about."

13 of 277 comments (clear)

  1. Misunderstood? by mcgrew · · Score: 5, Insightful

    privacy advocates say Facebook has misunderstood what the proposal is all about."

    Misunderstood, my ass. Never attribute to stupidity that which can be explained by greedy self-interest.

    --
    Free Martian Whores!
    1. Re:Misunderstood? by gstoddart · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Misunderstood, my ass. Never attribute to stupidity that which can be explained by greedy self-interest.

      Yeah, I'd have to say this is a willful 'misunderstanding'.

      Facebook's commodity is your data. That's how they make money. They don't want to be told that they would be required to delete your data upon request.

      Any time you see Facebook saying "Privacy laws would harm privacy", the real thing they're saying is "but that would cut into profits".

      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    2. Re:Misunderstood? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Sadly, I think you hit the nail right on the head.

      From FB's perspective, this would harm your privacy, because FB will have to find even more creative and treacherous ways to invade user privacy to make up for the fact that users could, at any time, choose to have said data removed. I could easily imagine them creating multiple shell corporations that really "store" your data, and then when you ask to have your data removed they simply say "sorry, we don't store your data, one or more of our many affiliate corporations store and manage user data .. you'll have to submit your requests to them..."

    3. Re:Misunderstood? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      "Thank you for your request to delete your personal data

      Because Facebook LLC-Subcorp 3b is a wholly owned but separate subsidiary of Facebook LLC-Subcorp 2a1, we do not have your facebook credentials such as your username or password (that would violate your privacy).

      We do however, store and back up your personal information, which you authorized Facebook LLC-Subcorp 2b2 to transmit to us on your behalf.

      Because you have granted Facebook a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty free license to reproduce, reuse, market and otherwise utilize your personal content in the known universe in perpetuity, we will not actually delete your data. We will however, stop re-sharing it with Facebook LLC-Subcorp #1b2, a Malaysian-Ireland-Turkey LLC.

      To verify you own the identify you are requesting to purge yourself from our systems, please supply us with the following:

      1) Your full name
      2) Your place of birth
      3) Your date of birth
      4) Your mother's maiden name
      5) Your current address
      6) Your phone number
      7) Your email addresses
      8) Your login credentials for google
      9) A scanned, notarized copy of your driver's license

      When we have validated your identity, we will be happy to remove your personal information from our servers.

      For our protection, your removal request may be archived for up to seven years. Your personal information may also remain on backup tapes, magnetic media, aggregated dimensional analysis units, and in any other system we have already sold, licensed, subcontracted, or authorized to use on our behalf.

      By submitting a removal request, you authorize us to forward your request to subcontractors as we see fit, with whom we may have exclusive business relationships to resell your identity.

      Thank you, your privacy is very important to us."

    4. Re:Misunderstood? by Anonymous+Brave+Guy · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Dear Facebook,

      Thank you for your response to our legal position.

      As you have not complied, your assets across the EU have been frozen, and any executive who sets foot in any EU nation is subject to arrest and criminal prosecution.

      Love and hugs,
      The guys who actually still make the laws over here

      I think when the EU starts fining them substantial amounts and/or issuing arrest warrants, Facebook will notice. Contrary to common belief on US-centric forums like Slashdot, the EU does actually have teeth when it comes to US tech firms taking liberties, and has been known to bite.

      In case anyone thinks this is just hyperbole, consider that the EU (both citizenry and government) is getting very fed up with the US (both corporations and government) thinking that it can dictate how everyone else's legal systems and business regulations should work. Anything that screws Facebook while strengthening the EU data protection/privacy position and generating income for the EU via fines is basically a political/economic win/win proposition for the people who are going to be driving the process. Pretty much the only potential downside is losing favour with the US government with consequences elsewhere, but right now the US government is pretty unpopular with everyone so that probably doesn't matter much.

      --
      If you disagree, post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like.
  2. In other news... by sconeu · · Score: 5, Informative

    War is Peace
    Freedom is Slavery

    --
    General Relativity: Space-time tells matter where to go; Matter tells space-time what shape to be.
    1. Re:In other news... by Jah-Wren+Ryel · · Score: 5, Insightful

      War is Peace
      Freedom is Slavery

      As we approach the 30th anniversary I propose we add these to the list:

      Sharing is Stealing
      Privacy is Terrorism

      --
      When information is power, privacy is freedom.
  3. So by the same logic... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    The "right not to be punched in the face" would harm health?

  4. Facebook on Privacy by TheSpoom · · Score: 5, Informative

    I think I'll take Facebook's views on privacy with a grain of salt.

    --
    It's better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it.
    - E. Debs
  5. Problem solved by golden+age+villain · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Facebook says the proposal would require social media sites to perform extra tracking to remove data which has been copied to other sites

    Maybe they can start by not copying user data to other sites.

  6. Privacy has nothing to do with it by Adrian+Lopez · · Score: 5, Insightful

    To grant one person the right to be forgotten is to deprive another of the right to remember. The sharing of information once legitimately published cannot become illegitimate just because the person involved doesn't want it to be known. The "right" to be forgotten is a form of censorship and has nothing at all to do with privacy.

    --
    "In prison you just have to shut your eyes and take it. Here you have to shut your eyes and give it."
    1. Re:Privacy has nothing to do with it by Desler · · Score: 5, Insightful

      But what if you never gave it to them?

    2. Re:Privacy has nothing to do with it by dywolf · · Score: 5, Informative

      We're not talking about criminal records or warcrimes here.
      We are talking about being tracked and datamined, for profit.

      This is not a form of censorship.

      Facebooks right to know everything about and and make money off it does not carry more weight than my right to be left alone and not be tracked and not be datamined.

      --
      The guy who said the election was rigged won the presidency with the second-most votes.