Live data from Hacker News

Facebook will take action to protect the privacy and security of their users

facebook.com

11–20 of 36 posts

Re: Facebook will take action to protect the privacy and security of their users

#11

If an (prospective) employer asked for a email/social account password, you should leave immediately, period.

The other issue is these requirements are not listed on job postings and rely on a potential hire to report that it happened.

Re: Facebook will take action to protect the privacy and security of their users

#13
While I completely agree that this is unacceptable and applaud facebook for their attempt at protecting users, there is a bit of irony in this move. Wasn't it Zuckerberg who has repeatedly expressed the idea that privacy is no longer a social norm, almost to the point of fatalism.?

Re: Facebook will take action to protect the privacy and security of their users

#14

While I completely agree that this is unacceptable and applaud facebook for their attempt at protecting users, there is a bit of irony in this move. Wasn't it Zuckerberg who has repeatedly expressed the idea that privacy is no longer a social norm, almost to the point of fatalism.?

Zuckerberg is financially interested in getting your info, not giving it out.

Re: Facebook will take action to protect the privacy and security of their users

#15
post #12

If an (prospective) employer asked for a email/social account password, you should leave immediately, period.

What if it is for national security, like working for the CIA or MI5?

Then they don't need to ask you for it.

Re: Facebook will take action to protect the privacy and security of their users

#16
post #4

Every once in a while Facebook does the right thing. Is there any sort of self-motivating factor that I'm missing here? (other than good PR)

I guess it's in Facebook's interest to get users to share without the fear of a future employer looking into it.

This is it right here.

Re: Facebook will take action to protect the privacy and security of their users

#17
post #9

If an (prospective) employer asked for a email/social account password, you should leave immediately, period.

The trouble, as always, are the more vulnerable people in society. Folks who may not have a lot of options, or really need to stay at a current job. They are more vulnerable to this sort of exploitation. I wish facebook would organize an advocacy group or class action lawsuits against a list of these employers.

Or give you a second password to show a cleaned up profile.

Re: Facebook will take action to protect the privacy and security of their users

#18

Every once in a while Facebook does the right thing. Is there any sort of self-motivating factor that I'm missing here? (other than good PR)

Is good PR not enough? I'd say that bad reputation is actually one of the biggest threats to Facebook in the long term. If they could reinvent themselves as an organization as trustworthy as a bank with your private information, a big reason for going elsewhere would be eliminated.

In the short term, the network effect holds their site together, unless they mess up really bad. In the long term, however, these things do matter and Facebook knows that.

Re: Facebook will take action to protect the privacy and security of their users

#19
post #4

Every once in a while Facebook does the right thing. Is there any sort of self-motivating factor that I'm missing here? (other than good PR)

I guess it's in Facebook's interest to get users to share without the fear of a future employer looking into it.

I interpreted this two ways:

1. Facebook gets more of people's personal info.

2. Only Facebook gets this info.

Re: Facebook will take action to protect the privacy and security of their users

#20
its simply understanding your client`s pain point(s) and providing a solution.

Thing is there`s 2 users here

1) facebook user. demanding inappropriate access to their personal life is invasive - todays memo... check.

2) employer/potential employer. Understanding the character of the candidate. Facebook offers a premium service e.g. say $10k/seat that offers more in-depth access. similar to LinkedIn`s premium account.. yet users dont feel violated.

Todays note address 1) maybe 2) will be addressed in the future. Im sure that would be quite the cash cow.

Post reply on HN