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You Might Have an Invisible Facebook Account Even if You Never Signed Up

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Re: You Might Have an Invisible Facebook Account Even if You Never Signed Up

#51

last year, i - without having a facebook account - tried to get the data facebook might have stored about me through the corresponding EU privacy protection laws. all i got was the answer that they do not compile custom data exports upon request anymore and that i would have login into my facebook account [sic] to any data through some data downloading service... now i wonder if i should have pestered a bit more, i.e…

Would you get a lawyer to write the letter? That might be most fruitful.

Re: You Might Have an Invisible Facebook Account Even if You Never Signed Up

#53
I'm surprised this wasn't widely known. For a couple of years I would get invitations to join Facebook that showed the names and photos of some of my friends (some of who didn't know each other).

My problem now is that somebody tried to create an account with one of my email addresses and even though I didn't confirm the account (and contacted Facebook asking them to delete it) I'm now getting emails from Facebook.

Re: You Might Have an Invisible Facebook Account Even if You Never Signed Up

#54

What's a shadow profile? Sounds so sinister. It's probably just a line in a database with your email address and phone number. It's not like Facebook is actively keeping tabs on people that don't have accounts.

and the ties between all the email addresses and phone numbers.

Re: You Might Have an Invisible Facebook Account Even if You Never Signed Up

#55
There was a related HN discussion of the fairly recent security vulnerability where Facebook was giving away information about your friends (a shadow profile with additional info on users who hadn't been the ones to give that info to Facebook) when you requested your extended data download:

Facebook security bug exposed 6 million users' personal information

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5921092

Re: You Might Have an Invisible Facebook Account Even if You Never Signed Up

#56
post #10
post #2

When you install the Facebook app on your phone it requires permission to read your contacts, call log, location, accounts, and application data. Is this true?

First thing to do on an Android is to go under settings/apps/All and disable the privacy parasites such as the facebook apps(4) and google+.

But aren't you doing this AFTER you install the app? Which defies the purpose because by the time you turn it off, all your data is transferred.

Re: You Might Have an Invisible Facebook Account Even if You Never Signed Up

#57
post #35

Ok so maybe I'm alone here, but this doesn't bother me at all. How is this an invasion on anyone's privacy? They are just using the info a user already gave them access to. Why does it matter if Facebook has information about you you can't see? Is it really surprising that they do? It's not like FB just shows us the DB tables so that we know what info they are storing on us. As programmers we should all understand th…

Its connection as well as contact information. Who you have been in communication with as well as your contact details.

Re: You Might Have an Invisible Facebook Account Even if You Never Signed Up

#58
post #10
post #2

When you install the Facebook app on your phone it requires permission to read your contacts, call log, location, accounts, and application data. Is this true?

First thing to do on an Android is to go under settings/apps/All and disable the privacy parasites such as the facebook apps(4) and google+.

Anyone knows if the preinstalled FB application sends anything to FB even if you've never used it?

Re: You Might Have an Invisible Facebook Account Even if You Never Signed Up

#59
post #49

The main invasion of privacy here is your friend(s) agreeing to give Facebook (a 3rd party) your information without asking or informing you. This is analogous to Facebook giving the government (a 3rd party) your information without asking or informing you.

i brought this up when my family using the "family tree" app a few years ago. they kept marking their familial relations online for all to see, for free and in great detail. needless to say, i was met with blank stares when i brought this up.

Same here. I barely spend time on FB, but check in once and a while.

A while back I received a stream of "family tree" invitations from a relative, who'd noted our relationship via the app.

She'd done the same with a bunch of other relatives (who in turn did likewise). None of them meant any harm, but it turned my stomach.

Re: You Might Have an Invisible Facebook Account Even if You Never Signed Up

#60
Is this it? This is our brave new world of pervasive data gathering, social network analysis, and the dying gasp of any shred of privacy? This is the future we've built for ourselves?

I haven't had a facebook account for 3 years. I'm certain FB has a shadow profile for me today and there's nothing I can do about it. My friends don't understand (or don't care about) the implications of everything they do online being tracked, in minute detail, and stored indefinitely.

Real-time indefinite mass surveillance is a fact and yet failed to galvanize the public into action. What can I do other than allow the cynicism to take hold and become a recluse?

I earn my livelihood from technology. I want to believe technology has great potential for medicine, exploration, and improving the human condition. The cognitive dissonance has to give somewhere.

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