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Facebook breaches privacy laws.

mrbubbles
edited July 2009 in General
I thought this might be worth posting, given the excess of the demographics using Facebook on this forum.

http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/07/16/facebook-privacy-commissioner.html
The office released a report Thursday on the popular social networking site found Facebook continues to breach the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act in three other ways:

* It keeps information from accounts deactivated by users indefinitely and does not make it clear that users can also choose to delete their accounts rather than just deactivate them. Nor does it explain the difference in its privacy policy.
* It keeps the profiles of deceased users for "memorial purposes," including this in its terms of use. That means users cannot opt out.
* It allows users to post personal information about non-users without their consent. For example, it allows them to tag photos and videos of non-users with their names, and provide Facebook with their email addresses to invite them to join the site. It keeps the addresses indefinitely.

Comments

  • Ether
    edited July 2009
    I find it odd that people care so much. It's the internet. That's just how it works.

    You should know that if you post information there, that information is permanently public.

    Anyone signing up for facebook would be naive to think that they can just demand that stuff be deleted. Frankly, I think facebook is providing a service above and beyond that of most internet sites by allowing users to control their privacy options as much as they do.
    It keeps information from accounts deactivated by users indefinitely and does not make it clear that users can also choose to delete their accounts rather than just deactivate them. Nor does it explain the difference in its privacy policy.
    Big deal, add a few lines in the privacy policy about deleting an account.
    It allows users to post personal information about non-users without their consent. For example, it allows them to tag photos and videos of non-users with their names, and provide Facebook with their email addresses to invite them to join the site. It keeps the addresses indefinitely.
    Newsflash: so does the internet. I could create a website and post the names, pictures, email addresses, and ice cream preference of all the people I know.
  • vonnie
    edited July 2009
    You hear about that kid that posted a list on facebook of all the people he wanted to kill, and some kids told on him, so he's arrested now? And then they found a whole shit load of firearms in his house. Awaiting trial.
  • ikkaku
    edited July 2009
    they should know that privacy is no longer an equation when dealing with the internet!

    kind of like when you upload photos onto facebook, it says it will become the property of facebook
  • siuying
    edited July 2009
    i find it odd that so many people use facebook regardless.. when they know a lot of their privacy rights are being breached (if they actually read the user agreement) and now people are complaining about this is just... beyond me.. =S
  • buflibufli
    edited July 2009
    the concept of privacy on the internet makes me lol :P
  • Kevin M.Kevin M.
    edited July 2009
    Another mistake that people often make is in defining the type of information that companies store about them online. Facebook may share user information with third parties, but it is only in an abstract data form...like statistics. Even offline companies store and use this kind of demographic information, it's just a part of doing business so you can understand your market. I don't think they would give up someones specific profile and personal information outright, because then their own business would go down the tube.
  • Lixie
    edited July 2009
    Who in the world actually thinks they are important enough for other people to look up their personal information?

    Identity thieves cannot prey on those who aren't idiots to begin with--no one of sound intelligence would post credit card info, SIN, home address, etc., on public domain.

    Maybe this video was made for idiots who needed a wake up call.
  • lazyGUY
    edited July 2009
    Facebook agreed to let a 3rdparty use your pics and name. Facebook>privacysettings>newsfeedsandwall>facebookads tab. select NO ONE. Save your changes. Then tell your friends.

    (copied off reddit)

    http://www.facebook.com/privacy/?view=feeds&tab=ads&facebooksucks=1

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