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Facebook Loses Much Face In Secret Smear On Google

techcrunch.com

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Re: Facebook Loses Much Face In Secret Smear On Google

#2
They are too young of a company to be pulling this sort of seedy stuff.

Also ‘privacy’?! I hope the irony isn’t lost on anyone. It wasn't very well thought-out, as when a net privacy panic starts spreading like wildfire through the media the consequences in political grandstanding and potential legislative action would hurt them as well.

So they come out of this looking like data-locking propaganda spreading assholes. Good job!

Referenced article: http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2011-05-12/fa...

Re: Facebook Loses Much Face In Secret Smear On Google

#4
post #3

Are we just assuming that "an unnamed client" is Facebook, because DUH, who else? Or am I missing a piece of this story?

According to the Daily Beast article linked from the Techcrunch article, Facebook admitted it: "Confronted with evidence, a Facebook spokesman last night confirmed that Facebook hired Burson, citing two reasons: First, because it believes Google is doing some things in social networking that raise privacy concerns; second, and perhaps more important, because Facebook resents Google’s attempts to use Facebook data in its own social-networking service."

That seems like kind of a weird statement from a "Facebook spokesman" so I assume we are going to get some additional statements about this.

Re: Facebook Loses Much Face In Secret Smear On Google

#8
I wonder what the ex googlers who moved to FaceBook think of such slimy tactics. Might be interesting to hear the perspective of someone who moved from a company that (at least) professes an adherence to "Don't be evil" to a company that apparently has no problems with jumping into the slime. If I worked for Facebook, I'd be ashamed of my employer today (and would probably protest and then get fired!).

And, as someone said above, Facebook professing a concern for abuse of privacy is a bit much to swallow.

Re: Facebook Loses Much Face In Secret Smear On Google

#9
post #3

Are we just assuming that "an unnamed client" is Facebook, because DUH, who else? Or am I missing a piece of this story?

According to the Daily Beast article linked from the Techcrunch article, Facebook admitted it: "Confronted with evidence, a Facebook spokesman last night confirmed that Facebook hired Burson, citing two reasons: First, because it believes Google is doing some things in social networking that raise privacy concerns; second, and perhaps more important, because Facebook resents Google’s attempts to use Facebook data in…

"[L]ater, learning that Facebook had come clean, the Burson spokesman wrote back and confirmed it."

Top of page 2 of the original article.

Re: Facebook Loses Much Face In Secret Smear On Google

#10
Good ol' Arrington... he's got the courage to call em out. To really stick it to the big guys. It takes guts to say "No More!" to the corrupt and the wicked, even when such a stance might cost you personally.

I was going to comment as such on his blog...

...but I don't have a facebook account. ;)

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