The ongoing saga of Facebook privacy issues: should you be concerned?
Facebook isn’t doing too well in the department of privacy issues lately, but how concerned do you really need to be?
It seems like rarely a day goes by without Facebook being pilloried over a privacy blunder. Random news headlines over the last few weeks include: Facebook’s Privacy Settings Are Actually “Evil Interfaces.” Will Facebook’s privacy and communication blunders turn it into the next AOL? From Facebook Fatigue to Facebook Farewells. Your life is an open book if you use Facebook. Even Sync’s own Andrew Kameka recently posted that Facebook must be allergic to privacy concerns.
It’s certainly not been smooth sailing for Facebook recently: they’ve been accused of secretly adding applications to people’s profiles, exposing (supposedly) private chats and disclosing information about its users to third parties without their consent. In the U.S., senators have asked Facebook’s CEO to reconsider his company’s approach to security, complaints have been filed with the Federal Trade Commission and, here in Canada, the Privacy Commissioner has taken aim at the world’s most popular social networking site: “We are not happy. I think we will have an announcement to make in the next few weeks,” Elizabeth Denam, Assistant Privacy Commissioner told the Vancouver Sun. Ouch!
But just how concerned about these shortcomings should you be? Should you immediately deactivate your Facebook account? Or is it really not all that much of a problem? Indeed, Facebook certainly need to smarten up but let’s remember that it’s a social network: a network that’s designed to allow you to share information and it’s quite possible that any information that you do post to Facebook – or, for that matter, any other social network – will end up in the public domain. That may be because of a security/privacy breach or it may simply be because somebody in your network decides to broadcast the information. The moral is simple: do not post information to any social network unless you are happy to share that information with the rest of the world.
What do you think? Should people abandon Facebook or simply be more selective about the information that they choose the share?
If people are in simple terms…simple….stupid ….ignorant….dense….need I go on to post enough personal data on a social networking site such as facebook to be a risk to their own personal data and security they deserve to have it taken , the problem is not with the medium but those that use and abuse it.
Couldn’t have said it better.Abuse!The computer is an avenue to talk with people,and if people want to spoil that for everyone ,then I don’t know what to say.The electronic age will be no more.I think I often said ,give someone something and watch them ruin it!!!!!!How many times have you noticed that!
YES! People should be concerned!! I “de-activated” my FB account a few months ago……..but it was no easy feat! In fact, it was nearly impossible!! What does THAT say about FB’s control over YOUR confidentiality!! YES – the people posting things should be smarter…but hey, take a random walk through any strangers profile and you’ll quickly discover people are DUMB when it comes to privacy, and lack a healthy fear of exposure in the wrong places.
Sorry, but I am HAPPILY–DISCONNECTED!
The ‘theif of time’ no longer has me in it’s grips! I know it was meant for good….but evil has prevailed!! :(
A very good read, well thought out and direct to the realities.
I am not concerned about the privacy thing on FB because I NEVER put anything on there that I don’t want the whole world to see, plus I don’t use many of the apps– so my info is not on a lot of data bases.
I think people need to limit the amount of personal information they put onto the internet; regardless of Facebook’s privacy issues. However, I do think it’s cause for some concern. Specifically, the private chat issue, though this has been fixed.
[...] said I think people need to limit the amount of personal… on The ongoing saga of Facebook privacy issues: should you be [...]
Facebook had the potential to be a great social network, but those in charge have proven to be extremely unethical. Privacy concerns have shifted, while people were initially worried about their employer finding inappropriate pictures, now you should be worried about Facebook’s access and OWNERSHIP of your personal information. Their conduct should not be supported and they can not be trusted with any information, little as it may be, it can be used against you at their will.
To remove Facebook from your computer
http://fightskillz.com/2010/05/boycott-facebook/
To delete your Facebook identity (not just deactivate)
http://www.groovypost.com/howto/security/permanently-delete-your-facebook-profile-account/
SO WHAT!! There’s an option to UNSHARE, just uncheck it and there ya go, then you’re not sharing or allowing your friends to share it (new sharing option implemented but not advertised lately)!! I too don’t put anything I wouldn’t publicize in the local newspaper. PERIOD!! as long as they can’t hack into my computer, sharing my personal information is no big deal. I’m not stupid, my home phone number, adddress or anyting else THAT private is not there! I like FB, it occupies me when I am bored and does a good job at that with its wordscraper, family feud and other apps that I CHOOSE to partake in that are not just a money-grabbing scam (those ARE there too)! It’s the age of technology, if you’re “TUPID” perhaps you should stick to being a couch potato with your TV… I myself enjoy keeping in touch with friends and family all over the world and I LOVE IT!
All the comments so far have avoided the issue of SOMEONE ELSE sharing your information. When someone else puts your picture out there with a name and address, how do you retract it? how do you even know it’s done? If your children unwittingly share your info innappropriately, the same issues arise.
What about the fact that FB is none too forthcoming into the workings of its’ site. While you may take drastic steps to “protect” your info, the site may be “leaking” that self-same info through an obscure interface in some app or through a “friends’” site.
BTW, has anyone heard what happened with that Russian dude that was selling FB passwords in huge blocks? Did FB suggest everyone change their password? Has FB EVER suggested anyone change their password?
For my money, FB is just another way to ask for trouble. If I want to “chat”, I’ll pick up the damn phone, thanks. Besides, my typing is attrocious! :)
I am very selective about who I share info with on facebook and what I post. My “priavacy settings” are maxed. But I have been victim to some of the ‘secret application adding’ which cost me dearly in my personal life. The application “SpeedDate” hijacked my facebook account and friend’s of my boyfriend ran to him stating I’ve been on facebook-DATING sites!!! It literally cost me my relationship without Me ever having given permission to SpeedDate! I’d like to get rid of my account but I have family across the country that I keep in touch with via facebook, but come on people this is unacceptable!
I think we need to look at all online service providers, including GMAIL, regarding privacy issues. We should be all concerned. We enter our private information, emails, pictures etc. and hand over control of our private information to online service providers and we lose ownership of our information, our property. It now becomes their property.
I was first introduced to FB at IBM a few years ago, and the group where I worked seemed to use this constantly, all day long, during work hours. I now have used it to connect with some of my highschool classmates, to rally for our reunion in 2012. My son had a bad experience, whereby he had a bad day at work, (lost hours), and made some comments regarding his employer on his FB. BIG MISTAKE. A few days later, he was pulled into a conference call and questioned about the comments, and if he was the person on the site? When he told me of this later that week, I quickly suggested he resign as there could be issues of defamation of character, and slander towards his employer. He resigned a few days later, right before Xmas and hoped to worked up to the week before (December 19th). The company, with all the tactfullness of a snake, did not schedule him for his last week of work, and he had no money for Xmas gifts. He is now awaiting a claim against the employer for some of the last week, assuming he would have worked the week before Xmas? The company was GAP and one of the largest employers in our local mall. My son was the only male, who changed lights, took out the garbage, and all other duties that required manual labour. He was with the company just over a year, got his “one year” pin, several good performance notices, as well. I think he was very good at sales, and really was an asset to the team. Apparently NOT. It appears new management in the store, has caused a bit of a “disturbance in the force”, and most of the staff are not happy with their jobs, and it’s just not fun anymore. How sad. FB is good for communicating with your friends from present and past, but keep the personal comments to a minimum. Get a journal and jot down your thoughts. Don’t post for the world. Have you heard the term “drink and dial”…well this goes for email and FB….’DON’T DRINK AND FB/EMAIL”…it will haunt you and come up to bite you in the ass at some point.
Wow, that is scary. On the one hand, it is like big brother is watching and you’re afraid to post anything. On the other hand, even big companies can’t get away with poor treatment of customers or staff as easily now, as you have just shown by posting your comments. In this day and age before spending any money on anything I investigate on the internet to see what ordinary people are saying about it, not just relying on the advertising of the companies. It used to be you had to rely on the media to get news of things but now for good and for bad people are everywhere with their flip phone cameras and anything that happens can show up on youtube so there really isn’t privacy for anyone.
My privacy settings were optimized and even the information only visible to me was minimal. I also thought twice before posting a public comment, but I was still concerned. Facebook makes drastic changes over night without notifying the users, changes in third party applications, terms and conditions, as well as privacy. Keeping up with it is a burden, and I can’t trust them. Even if you have nothing to hide, they will find a way to use it against you, just like in Lynn’s case. Who’s to say they won’t use your account for their benefit, and twist your words. They can monitor anything else you do online and combine that with your Facebook identity in ways which can be harmful. By participating in Facebook you give them ownership over your identity, regardless of how liberal you are, their conduct is not ethical. Going over my list of friends I realized that I already had the emails and phone numbers of those who I actually cared about. There are so many other ways to keep in touch with loved ones, without sacrificing your identity or supporting their conduct against others who have been victims.
Any information you put online should be monitored, but companies like Google who have access to more than you think have chosen to respect individuals’ privacy.
http://www.justinmichie.com/10-things-you-didnt-know-google-knows-about-you.php
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