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10 Dec 2009
New privacy settings on Facebook, which came into force yesterday, have drawn widespread criticism from internet and civil liberty groups.
Kevin Bankston, from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, claimed that several of the supposed improvements had created new and serious privacy problems for users of the popular social networking service.
"The new privacy changes are clearly intended to push Facebook users to publicly share 'even more' information than before," he wrote in a blog post. "Even worse, the changes will actually 'reduce' the amount of control that users have over some of their personal data."
Bankston acknowledged that the new changes had simplified the privacy settings by reducing the overall number of settings and making them clearer for users, but he maintained that the positives are outweighed by the negatives.
"The privacy transition tool that guides users through the configuration will recommend the setting to share content with everyone on the internet, even though the previous default level was limited to 'Your Networks and Friends'," he said.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has also criticised the changes, citing the risk posed to users. Nicole Ozer, technology and civil liberties policy director of the ACLU, highlighted concerns over the types of personal information which are now set as shared by default, rather than privately, as under the old settings.
"For example, as of last Friday, sensitive information like relationship status and gender preference was available only to your friends by default; now Facebook encourages users to make this information available to 'everyone'," she wrote in a blog post.
However, the ACLU did concede that forcing Facebook's 350 million users to think about privacy is a good thing, and that it is pleased to see the site finally putting privacy "front and centre" for every one of its users.
The Electronic Privacy Information Centre added its voice to the dissent, saying that the privacy recommendations suggested by Facebook may result in a greater disclosure of information than users intend.
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Do you agree?
Facebook privacy ?
Very simply, if you don't like the product, don't use it.
Posted by: Glenn D'Abrera 13 Dec 2009
I say reap what you sow
Facebook, wow. I personally never joined facebook, nor will I ever. What is Facebook besides another "All about me" attitude, an attention grabber for those seeking the "Look at me" storm that has been rolling in over the last so many years. Dramabook is what it should be called. I thinks it's OK if you have a software or business and works well for those type of groups but for others who simply want exposure and to show the world who they are, shows uselessness in it's purest form. Really, are a majority of Facebook users who they say they are anyway? Probably not. They can say FB is to communicate with friends etc... but really, wasn't that what email was about or the phone or texting? So you go on a website, the internet, where your privacy is the least likely to be safe anyway and whine after you've posted all your personal info on it. I think people need to wake up, the internet is NOT the place for privacy and won't be for a long time, if ever. Put your personal life on the internet and what? You expect it to stay that way? You have that kind of trust in any site? I think people need some educating. Of course this ignorance will go on, people giving out their lives like free beer for all to drink, then they can cry "it's not my fault" or "why did my info get leaked?" and yet again, blame the universe itself, but never their fault. I don't put the blame on Facebook, why, because they change and have the right to just like any other site does and if people read the fine print, they would know this ahead of time. Facebook could do away with all security and have the right to do so. Let's take a look at what people missed here... you grant us a non-exclusive, transferable, sub-licensable, royalty-free, worldwide license to use any IP content that you post on or in connection with Facebook ("IP License"). This IP License ends when you delete your IP content or your account unless your content has been shared with others, and they have not deleted it. and... WE TRY TO KEEP FACEBOOK UP, BUG-FREE, AND SAFE, BUT YOU USE IT AT YOUR OWN RISK. WE DO NOT GUARANTEE THAT FACEBOOK WILL BE SAFE OR SECURE. read some more here... http://www.facebook.com/terms.php Now, why should anyone be angry? Nearly EVERY site or software has this, AS IS. You don't read, don't whine. Rights groups should put forth just as much effort toward browsers like Google who keep all of our information as well, or at least direct it to something that happens in the REAL world. Perhaps even business type transactions over the net, etc... but not Facebook, it's nothing more than a hang out for those who are trying to get the attention they "think" they deserve.
Posted by: PChammer 11 Dec 2009
Your premise of 'widespread' criticism is unsupported
Criticism from two sources is nowhere near widespread. Especially when the sources both exist to criticize on privacy. I blame editors. Nothing to do with the article or this comment I just find editors naturally blameworthy. The coverage of the change will, however, cause me to review my privacy settings on facebook, twitter et al.
Posted by: Patrick Boake 10 Dec 2009
Rights groups angry with Facebook privacy changes
Having gone through the privacy setting this morning, I can only conclude that none of those complaining, including this article's author, have actually used FB. If you are a new user, nothing changes, you have to set up your rights carefully. If you are an existing user nothing changes, your rights remain as they were before the change.
Posted by: Schund Smitt 10 Dec 2009