Facebook doesn't like privacy countermeasures

#1

Post by xentronium » Sat, Sep 03, 2011, 12:07 PM UTC

Facebook doesn't like privacy countermeasures
jwz.org

Re: Facebook doesn't like privacy countermeasures

#2

Post by slowpoke » Sat, Sep 03, 2011, 12:39 PM UTC

  If it hadn't occurred to you yet that Facebook cares far
  more about the "Like" buttons that you don't click than
  about the ones that you do -- there you go.

I've been telling this to people since ages. These stupid Like buttons are an infestation, and exactly the reason why I care so much about Facebook's privacy policies despite not being registered on it - it's just not as simple as "not having an account". This goes for the other networks, too, by the way.

Besides, this solution with the two clicks is very clever, and privacy friendly. In addition, it speeds up page loading. It speaks for itself that the only measure Facebook has is trying to sue with a very broadly formulated policy, which I doubt applies in this case anyways:

  if such use could confuse users into thinking that the
  reference is to Facebook features or functionality.

Well duh, it is a Facebook feature/functionality.

Re: Facebook doesn't like privacy countermeasures

#3

Post by maeon3 » Sat, Sep 03, 2011, 12:42 PM UTC

I forgot how when I click a like button on a foreign page, face book is keeping data about what pages I am visiting and (who,what,when,where,how) and is selling that click data about me to the highest bidder (and I cant turn it off) to advertisers or worse government agencies doing warrent-less surveillance.

I'm never clicking a facebook like button again until I can turn off user website tracking.

Re: Facebook doesn't like privacy countermeasures

#4

Post by yuvadam » Sat, Sep 03, 2011, 12:42 PM UTC

Friendly reminder, blocking all and any of Facebook's pre-click tracking measures can be implemented easily in AdBlock Plus (or any equivalent ad blocker) with the following rules:

    ||facebook.com^$domain=~facebook.com|~facebook.net|~fbcdn.com|~fbcdn.net
    ||facebook.net^$domain=~facebook.com|~facebook.net|~fbcdn.com|~fbcdn.net
    ||fbcdn.com^$domain=~facebook.com|~facebook.net|~fbcdn.com|~fbcdn.net
    ||fbcdn.net^$domain=~facebook.com|~facebook.net|~fbcdn.com|~fbcdn.net

Re: Facebook doesn't like privacy countermeasures

#5

Post by rlpb » Sat, Sep 03, 2011, 12:44 PM UTC

maeon3 wrote: post #3

I forgot how when I click a like button on a foreign page, face book is keeping data about what pages I am visiting and (who,what,when,where,how) and is selling that click data about me to the highest bidder (and I cant turn it off) to advertisers or worse government agencies doing warrent-less surveillance. I'm never clicking a facebook like button again until I can turn off user website tracking.

You don't even need to click the like button. Facebook get the information as soon as you view the foreign page.

Re: Facebook doesn't like privacy countermeasures

#6

Post by FJCruiser79 » Sat, Sep 03, 2011, 12:50 PM UTC

maeon3 wrote: post #3

I forgot how when I click a like button on a foreign page, face book is keeping data about what pages I am visiting and (who,what,when,where,how) and is selling that click data about me to the highest bidder (and I cant turn it off) to advertisers or worse government agencies doing warrent-less surveillance. I'm never clicking a facebook like button again until I can turn off user website tracking.

By 'selling that click data about me' you realize that the only monetization tool Facebook has is a anonymized and aggregated ads tool...it doesn't sell click data.

Re: Facebook doesn't like privacy countermeasures

#7

Post by RexRollman » Sat, Sep 03, 2011, 12:52 PM UTC

Facebook is detestable. Just like its founder.

Re: Facebook doesn't like privacy countermeasures

#8

Post by code_duck » Sat, Sep 03, 2011, 12:52 PM UTC

maeon3 wrote: post #3

I forgot how when I click a like button on a foreign page, face book is keeping data about what pages I am visiting and (who,what,when,where,how) and is selling that click data about me to the highest bidder (and I cant turn it off) to advertisers or worse government agencies doing warrent-less surveillance. I'm never clicking a facebook like button again until I can turn off user website tracking.

People, including myself, seem to forget that Google has a far more pervasive network that has been operating for much longer.

Re: Facebook doesn't like privacy countermeasures

#9

Post by rickmb » Sat, Sep 03, 2011, 12:55 PM UTC

Facebook better wake up and realize that especially thanks to companies like them and their failure to self-regulate and respect privacy values outside the US, using Like-buttons for tracking is likely to become illegal in the EU and many other places in the next five years.

Technically, one could argue that they already violate existing laws, but incidents like these will make absolutely sure that these practices will be explicitly outlawed very soon.

It keeps surprising me how companies like Facebook and Google seem to be oblivious to the way privacy is perceived elsewhere, and are actively provoking stricter legislation than would be the case if they showed some respect. There is absolutely no question about these tracking practices being perceived as ethically unacceptable in many countries, so why provoke both negative publicity and legislation that is likely to handicap less intrusive solutions as well?

Re: Facebook doesn't like privacy countermeasures

#10

Post by Estragon » Sat, Sep 03, 2011, 12:59 PM UTC

yuvadam wrote: post #4

Friendly reminder, blocking all and any of Facebook's pre-click tracking measures can be implemented easily in AdBlock Plus (or any equivalent ad blocker) with the following rules: ||facebook.com^$domain=~facebook.com|~facebook.net|~fbcdn.com|~fbcdn.net ||facebook.net^$domain=~facebook.com|~facebook.net|~fbcdn.com|~fbcdn.net ||fbcdn.com^$domain=~facebook.com|~facebook.net|~fbcdn.com|~fbcdn.net ||fbcdn.net^$domain=~fa…

Corresponding blocks are already in the EasyPrivacy list.

https://easylist-downloads.adblockplus.org/easyprivacy.txt