I know that a lot of you use Facebook, and what I've been reading lately isn't encouraging. Thought I'd pass these items along for what it's worth.
Amalyah Keshet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Liberal advocacy group MoveOn.org formed a protest group Tuesday and had more than 6,000 members by Wednesday. The group is calling on Facebook to stop revealing online purchases and letting companies use names for endorsements without "explicit permission." "We want Facebook to realize that their users are rightly concerned that private information is being made public," MoveOn spokesman Adam Green said, adding that Facebook could quell concerns by seeking "opt in" consent rather than leaving it to users to "opt out" by taking steps to decline sharing. http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/internetprivacy/2007-11-22-facebook-tracking_N.htm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Facebook Faces U.K. Probe After User Can't Delete Account The social networking site Facebook faces an investigation from UK privacy watchdog after a complaint from a Channel 4 News viewer. Having decided that he no longer wanted to use the site, Alan Burlison tried to remove his account -- but he found that he wasn't able to do it. "Many people are posting content on social networking sites without thinking about the electronic footprint they leave behind. It is important that individuals consider this when putting information online. However, it is equally important that websites also take some responsibility." Read more: http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/science_technology/facebook%20data%20protection%20row/1060467 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Subject: Facebook violating privacy When you buy a book or movie online--or make a political contribution--do you want that information automatically shared with the world on Facebook? Most people would call that a huge invasion of privacy. But social networking site Facebook began doing just that. People across the country saw private purchases they made on other sites displayed publicly to everyone they know on Facebook. Why? To benefit corporate advertisers. Other sites are looking at Facebook's example to see if they can get away with similar privacy breaches. We need to draw a line in the sand--making clear that the wish lists of corporate advertisers must not come before the basic privacy rights of Internet users." Let's get Facebook to stop invading our privacy. Sign the petition at http://civ.moveon.org/facebookprivacy/?r_by=-8703789-pihRPZ&rc=privacypaste Then join the Facebook group "Facebook, stop invading my privacy!" and tell your friends. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3181
