Facebook will take action to protect the privacy and security of their users • Hacker News Board

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

#31

Post by newman314 » Fri, Mar 23, 2012, 9:59 PM UTC

kylelibra wrote: post #2

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)

It is good PR for Facebook, they get to build upon their walled garden in the name of protecting your privacy so there's no downside to them taking a stance on this at all.

It just so happens that "the right thing" happens to line up with Facebook's self-interest this time but I would not couch it as FB doing the right thing because it was the primary reason to do so.

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

#32

Post by AkThhhpppt » Fri, Mar 23, 2012, 10:03 PM UTC

lotu wrote: post #27

mortenjorck wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Facebook Introductions™, coming this spring 2014, gives employers a unique way to get to know candidates before hiring them. Don't worry, we don't share anything private – Introductions just allows subscribing businesses to see your Timeline as a friend would. It's the perfect way for employers to find the best cultural fit quickly, and can even be a great conversation starter for interviews."

I really doubt it. This kinda of thing would be received very, very poorly costing Facebook users. Furthermore I don't think Facebook is in the market of selling individuals personal information, they sell aggregate information, and provide targeted ads. People like to paint Facebook as an antagonist who is working to degrade personal privacy, but really they are acting in their own interest of making money by provid…

Yes, but it is in Facebook's best interest to ablate your instinct to privacy; the more you share online, the greater value Facebook is to you, and the more value you are to Facebook.

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

#33

Post by nomaningme » Fri, Mar 23, 2012, 11:27 PM UTC

DrHankPym wrote: post #28

I'm still confused how employers could ever justify doing this. Do they ever explain what they're looking for?

One story I read was, IIRC, the Maryland state prison system. They demanded to look at the FB pages of prospective prison guards, to determine if they or their friends have gang affiliations. The fear is that, if hired, they might engage in smuggling contraband into the prisons on behalf of prison gangs.

A worthy goal, but handled poorly.

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

#34

Post by bootload » Fri, Mar 23, 2012, 11:51 PM UTC

kylelibra wrote: post #2

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 there any sort of self-motivating factor that I'm missing here? (other than good PR) ..."

Exposure to litigation, PR is a positive side effect.

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

#35

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Mar 24, 2012, 2:05 AM UTC

ch0wn wrote: post #4

kylelibra wrote: post #2

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.

[deleted]

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

#36

Post by sofifonfek » Sat, Mar 24, 2012, 11:30 AM UTC

kylelibra wrote: post #2

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)

They're only doing the right thing for them, this move seems to incidentally benefits users too but not really. it prevent outcomes such as users 1) closing their account / switching to another website 2) creating an additional fake profile only for work.

This article [1] is imho quite right, this is mostly a non-issue turned into PR.

1:http://rexriepe.com/2012/clever-pr-facebook-bends-a-non-stor...