Live data from Hacker News

As Facebook Raised a Privacy Wall, It Carved an Opening for Tech Giants

nytimes.com

31–40 of 205 posts

Re: As Facebook Raised a Privacy Wall, It Carved an Opening for Tech Giants

#31

> With most of the partnerships, Mr. Satterfield said, the F.T.C. agreement did not require the social network to secure users’ consent before sharing data because Facebook considered the partners extensions of itself — service providers that allowed users to interact with their Facebook friends. Wow, this seems like yet another contortion to get out of asking the user what they want.

Dude, we are all one, connected through the universe, don't harsh the buzz with your pesky permissions.

Re: As Facebook Raised a Privacy Wall, It Carved an Opening for Tech Giants

#33
post #6

“Among the revelations was that Facebook obtained data from multiple partners for a controversial friend-suggestion tool called “People You May Know.” The feature, introduced in 2008, continues even though some Facebook users have objected to it, unsettled by its knowledge of their real-world relationships. Gizmodo and other news outlets have reported cases of the tool’s recommending friend connections between patien…

> Royal Bank of Canada to read, write and delete users’ private messages, and to see all participants on a thread There's a settlement out there for anyone with a Facebook account who was turned down for a loan by RBC. No chance RBC wants its dirty laundry aired in a Fair Housing suit.

Why would RBC even expose themselves to this liability? What was the point?

With every single one of these companies I am...baffled, that anyone thought this was a good idea, but in this situation especially it makes zero sense. All that liability for what possible upside?

Re: As Facebook Raised a Privacy Wall, It Carved an Opening for Tech Giants

#34
post #6

“Among the revelations was that Facebook obtained data from multiple partners for a controversial friend-suggestion tool called “People You May Know.” The feature, introduced in 2008, continues even though some Facebook users have objected to it, unsettled by its knowledge of their real-world relationships. Gizmodo and other news outlets have reported cases of the tool’s recommending friend connections between patien…

"Facebook would like access to your contacts. Do you agree? YES no"

Address book import and triangle closing drives the most PYMK features across every social network. It's a gold mine, and that's why everything wants it.

Re: As Facebook Raised a Privacy Wall, It Carved an Opening for Tech Giants

#35
post #6

“Among the revelations was that Facebook obtained data from multiple partners for a controversial friend-suggestion tool called “People You May Know.” The feature, introduced in 2008, continues even though some Facebook users have objected to it, unsettled by its knowledge of their real-world relationships. Gizmodo and other news outlets have reported cases of the tool’s recommending friend connections between patien…

> to read, write and delete users’ private messages I wonder if the delete permission was by accident or whether these companies were actively deleting private messages - craziness.

Facebook's permissions scopes have never been that granular - if you get approved for a permission it's generally access to create, edit, view, and delete all in one.

Re: As Facebook Raised a Privacy Wall, It Carved an Opening for Tech Giants

#36
post #6

“Among the revelations was that Facebook obtained data from multiple partners for a controversial friend-suggestion tool called “People You May Know.” The feature, introduced in 2008, continues even though some Facebook users have objected to it, unsettled by its knowledge of their real-world relationships. Gizmodo and other news outlets have reported cases of the tool’s recommending friend connections between patien…

One possibility would be that Facebook users were supposed to be able to read, write, and delete their own chat messages via custom chat clients built by Spotify, Netflix, and so on. If so, the New York Times is throwing shade on Facebook basically for not being enough of a walled garden. I hope their journalists are not that confused?

That would grant the app access to those permissions, not the companies.

Oh hey, would you look at that: https://www.theverge.com/2017/8/14/16143354/facebook-messeng...

Re: As Facebook Raised a Privacy Wall, It Carved an Opening for Tech Giants

#37

It was only a few weeks ago that people were arguing that it was anti-competitive for Facebook not to share data with other companies.

It’s about control. If it’s my data, I should be able to give permission for other apps to access it - regardless of whether Facebook views them as a competitor. Likewise, I should be able to block access for a given third party - regardless of how much money such a “partnership” would generate for Facebook.

So yes, it is anti-competitive for Facebook to block access against the explicit wishes of its users. But it’s also despicable to sell user data to whomever without asking permission first. It’s pretty obvious from Facebook’s actions that they consider it their data, not your data.

Re: As Facebook Raised a Privacy Wall, It Carved an Opening for Tech Giants

#38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Royal Bank of Canada to read, write and delete users’ private messages, and to see all participants on a thread There's a settlement out there for anyone with a Facebook account who was turned down for a loan by RBC. No chance RBC wants its dirty laundry aired in a Fair Housing suit.

Why would RBC even expose themselves to this liability? What was the point? With every single one of these companies I am...baffled, that anyone thought this was a good idea, but in this situation especially it makes zero sense. All that liability for what possible upside?

I think this was intended to be a customer support channel and they had to be able to delete the messages containing bank info after a certain amount of time. I had read something about it, I don't think carte blanche access to users' messages was sought or given, it was just support conversations. I didn't use it so this is like my memory of 2nd hand info.

Re: As Facebook Raised a Privacy Wall, It Carved an Opening for Tech Giants

#39

Would MZ ever face criminal charges?

> Would MZ ever face criminal charges? He's lied to Congress. He's lied to half of Europe. (Or blown them off.) He's knowingly directed the violation of a federal consent decree and several EU directives. He presides over a platform profiting from mass atrocities in multiple countries. There's plenty to go after him with. The only things protecting him are his standing and lack of unexpected criminality.

[deleted]

Re: As Facebook Raised a Privacy Wall, It Carved an Opening for Tech Giants

#40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Royal Bank of Canada to read, write and delete users’ private messages, and to see all participants on a thread There's a settlement out there for anyone with a Facebook account who was turned down for a loan by RBC. No chance RBC wants its dirty laundry aired in a Fair Housing suit.

Why would RBC even expose themselves to this liability? What was the point? With every single one of these companies I am...baffled, that anyone thought this was a good idea, but in this situation especially it makes zero sense. All that liability for what possible upside?

One reason would be that RBC was allowing people to send money from its app via Messenger - http://www.rbc.com/newsroom/news/2013/20131211-facebook.html
Post reply on HN