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Facebook Emails Could Show Zuckerberg Knew of Questionable Privacy Practices

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Re: Facebook Emails Could Show Zuckerberg Knew of Questionable Privacy Practices

#51

Post by elorant »

Meekro wrote: post #23

I see a lot of these articles about Facebook and privacy lately, but I'm still wondering what, precisely, Facebook is doing that people object to and what kinds of changes would satisfy those who are upset. Near as I can tell, this is about data in Facebook's databases finding its way to other organizations without the users' knowledge or consent. But the way this happens is pretty benign: 1. User installs Facebook a…

Here are the top two things I consider utterly invasive.

1) shadow profiles. Facebook has profiles for everyone, regardless if they have a profile on the social network or not. You many have never visited Facebook and still they collect info on you based on a variety of identifiable information they can find online.

2) forbid ad targeting by e-mail or phone number. This allows everyone who knows my e-mail or my mobile phone number to specifically target me with tailor made ads. The ramifications of this could be really scary.

Re: Facebook Emails Could Show Zuckerberg Knew of Questionable Privacy Practices

#52

Post by mrnobody_67 »

cronix wrote: post #43
Meekro wrote: post #23

I see a lot of these articles about Facebook and privacy lately, but I'm still wondering what, precisely, Facebook is doing that people object to and what kinds of changes would satisfy those who are upset. Near as I can tell, this is about data in Facebook's databases finding its way to other organizations without the users' knowledge or consent. But the way this happens is pretty benign: 1. User installs Facebook a…

What about the shadow profiles? Collecting data on people who have never even signed up and have not given them any data whatsoever?

That's what I strongly object to.

The difference in the amount of data that FB has on people who have an account and those who never had an account (like me) is minuscule...

Re: Facebook Emails Could Show Zuckerberg Knew of Questionable Privacy Practices

#53

Post by hanniabu »

elorant wrote: post #51
Meekro wrote: post #23

I see a lot of these articles about Facebook and privacy lately, but I'm still wondering what, precisely, Facebook is doing that people object to and what kinds of changes would satisfy those who are upset. Near as I can tell, this is about data in Facebook's databases finding its way to other organizations without the users' knowledge or consent. But the way this happens is pretty benign: 1. User installs Facebook a…

Here are the top two things I consider utterly invasive. 1) shadow profiles. Facebook has profiles for everyone, regardless if they have a profile on the social network or not. You many have never visited Facebook and still they collect info on you based on a variety of identifiable information they can find online. 2) forbid ad targeting by e-mail or phone number. This allows everyone who knows my e-mail or my mobil…

Didn't know about these shadow profiles, that's pretty interesting. Does anybody have an informative link handy to read more about this?

Re: Facebook Emails Could Show Zuckerberg Knew of Questionable Privacy Practices

#54

Post by mrnobody_67 »

He also openly ignores requests to testify in front of UK & Canadian parliamentary committees...

Think about that for a minute. Someone who controls 3b people. Runs psychological experiments using AI. Bans accounts of people who violate corporate-created policies that weren't debated or voted on by the public. Violates FCC settlements. And then refuses to be held accountable - or answer questions- from first world, democratic governments.

Re: Facebook Emails Could Show Zuckerberg Knew of Questionable Privacy Practices

#56

Post by jerf »

idlewords wrote: post #40
SapporoChris wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I call BS. Every situation you mentioned exists because people passively accept the situation. Simply demanding a method to communicate other than Facebook can remedy the situation. I'd love to see a list of companies that require a Facebook account. Not ask for Facebook account, require Facebook account. "You may have relatives abroad you can only talk to through Facebook or WhatsApp" They can't pick up the phone? S…

So... you're opining on a service you've never used? I guess you're on the right site for that.

Who else do you expect to have the best view on the utility of not using a Facebook account other than someone who doesn't use it?

I don't have one. I don't miss it, and am increasingly glad. But I do have the "spouse firewall"; my wife uses it and I get most of the news I need through that, and even by local standards I'm not really a social butterfly, so between the two things, my experience may not be 100% relevant. So there's my science-style "why this data point may not be relevant" disclosure.

But it certainly isn't a "requirement for modern life" or anything. The times I faintly regret maybe not having a Facebook account are separated by many months, it's not like every day I go to do something and alas, my life is degraded because I don't have a Facebook account. It's a rare event, such that I could pretty much recite to you every one from the past 5 years. (All of them are family news, either get-togethers I wouldn't have heard about, or some family news that I ultimately would have heard anyhow and didn't have any action items on either way.)

(There's enough people without a given social account that I'm still yet to encounter the site that only has Facebook authentication. I hear they exist, but they haven't naturally crossed my path yet.)

Re: Facebook Emails Could Show Zuckerberg Knew of Questionable Privacy Practices

#57

Post by kjar »

rjkennedy98 wrote: post #19
camjohnson26 wrote: post #18

Honestly I don’t see the problem, Facebook’s privacy stance has been well known for years. I don’t use their product much because of this, but friends and family couldn’t care less. Their response is that they don’t care if someone reads their messages or tailors ads to them and no matter how hard I try it won’t change their minds. If you don’t like their privacy stance just don’t use the product, it’s not like there…

I haven't used Facebook in nearly 8 years, however to say there are alternatives is specious. For example, I have recently learned I missed my first high school reunion because it was only posted on Facebook. Unfortunately, there isn't another service out there that I could subscribe to that would ensure I receive such communication.

I have never used FB for many reasons, and it drives me nuts when close friends assume everyone does then you miss invites.

Re: Facebook Emails Could Show Zuckerberg Knew of Questionable Privacy Practices

#58

Post by Barrin92 »

camjohnson26 wrote: post #18

Honestly I don’t see the problem, Facebook’s privacy stance has been well known for years. I don’t use their product much because of this, but friends and family couldn’t care less. Their response is that they don’t care if someone reads their messages or tailors ads to them and no matter how hard I try it won’t change their minds. If you don’t like their privacy stance just don’t use the product, it’s not like there…

obesity is one of primary public health concerns, with costs associated going into the tens if not hundreds of billions, affecting billions of people. Societies all over the globe try hard to tackle it, and you would have to make a very good case why you should not, or cannot police products that cause harm like this, we do it all the time.

If Facebook is the new Coke I'm not sure you're making the point you're intending to make. This just sounds like the stereotypical libertarian tech excuse about not taking responsibility for what is clearly becoming a pressing social concern.

Re: Facebook Emails Could Show Zuckerberg Knew of Questionable Privacy Practices

#59

Post by starbugs »

vijaybritto wrote: post #2

Honestly is anyone surprised by this? He controls everything and how will he not know their own policies?! Facebook needs a serious lesson from the regulators.

Not surprised, but I am afraid regulators will implement rules that would harm small businesses and startups much more than they would hurt FB. On the other hand, the market seems to be pretty much finished anyway. Unless someone comes up with a real decentralized solution that is able to compete with them.

Re: Facebook Emails Could Show Zuckerberg Knew of Questionable Privacy Practices

#60

Post by vijaybritto »

starbugs wrote: post #59
vijaybritto wrote: post #2

Honestly is anyone surprised by this? He controls everything and how will he not know their own policies?! Facebook needs a serious lesson from the regulators.

Not surprised, but I am afraid regulators will implement rules that would harm small businesses and startups much more than they would hurt FB. On the other hand, the market seems to be pretty much finished anyway. Unless someone comes up with a real decentralized solution that is able to compete with them.

Thats a valid concern. But lets hope that they take input from the tech community when and if they do it
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