Privacy groups ask FTC to block Facebook-WhatsApp deal

Post by Zikes » Fri, Mar 07, 2014, 6:33 PM UTC

amirmc wrote: post #21

kevcampb wrote: post #17

Why would any privacy advocate want to block this deal? I can only see this deal being beneficial for privacy in the long run. Facebook are unable to collect data from the service without changing the ToS, which will likely cause a user exodus. It's going to put such a huge unrecoverable dent in Facebook's finances that it will be a significant long term disadvantage to them. If you are a privacy advocate, wait until…

> "... without changing the ToS, which will likely cause a user exodus." How many people are even aware of what the ToS says? I don't recall a mass exodus from Google when they merged their privacy policies so I don't expect to see it here (for similar reasons - where would they go?). Edit: > "... then jump ship and bring your friends with you." You make it sound like this is easy. It isn't. That's why networks have…

Post by esmooov » Fri, Mar 07, 2014, 7:02 PM UTC

stingraycharles wrote: post #15

netcan wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

'I prefer a paid app over an ad-supported free one' This gets mentioned a lot. I don't quite understand the logic. Say WhatsApp cost users $3.99, when Facebook buys them for 5 billion $3.99s what difference does it make? Facebook gets 3990 messages, a list of people you know, groups and whatever else. They can now add those to their vast collection of stuff they know about you, Facebook profile or not. What do the $3…

It is implied that when you pay, you are the customer, and when it's ad-supported you're the product instead. In this case, however, you paid for the Whatsapp app, but with Facebook acquiring Whatsapp you'll also pay with your personal data.

Post by dragonwriter » Fri, Mar 07, 2014, 7:24 PM UTC

izzydata wrote: post #49

dhimes wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This meme needs to be shouted from the mountaintops until everybody understands it. Indeed you are correct- a company can be pure evil and charge you for wrecking your privacy. But if the app is free, that's all they can do and it's pretty obvious they are going to do it. If they are charging you for the product, there is at least some hope that they won't, and if they do, they have crossed a moral line- in the same…

This isn't a "meme". Please stop using that word where it doesn't belong.

Post by kevcampb » Sat, Mar 08, 2014, 12:29 PM UTC

happyscrappy wrote: post #34

kevcampb wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why not read the ToS? It's pretty clear and very user friendly. The short version - they don't store your data, and there is no right for Facebook to get that data historically. That's not to say they can't change it in future, but I'm sure if they do there will be a massive exodus from the network. And to further clarify on your comment - whatsapp is a paid for app, not advert supported. They only charge the iPhone…

"In the event that WhatsApp is acquired by or merged with a third party entity, we reserve the right to transfer or assign the information we have collected from our users as part of such merger, acquisition, sale, or other change of control." http://www.whatsapp.com/legal/

Post by kevcampb » Sat, Mar 08, 2014, 12:31 PM UTC

rebel wrote: post #65

kyro wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

$50 says no more than 0.5% of users will leave a Facebook-owned Whatsapp for privacy concerns. People do not care, at all.

Well Telegram advertised getting 5 million (~1% of WhatsApp) users in a day shortly after the sale was announced. Correlation doesn't always imply causation but in this case that's quite the coincidence.