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Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2004 18:18:34 +1100 From: Roger Clarke <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
G'day again Glitterati
I expressed concerns a couple of days ago about Plaxo. I've now flung together a draft privacy analysis of address-book and social networking services (SNS) generally, with particular reference to Plaxo.
As always, I'd appreciate constructively negative criticism, particularly if I'm being unfair to anyone.
If you know other people with background on the topic, or if you're plugged into e-lists whose subscribers would be interested in the paper, or could help improve the analysis, feel free to pass this message onwards.
Regards ... Roger
Very Black Little Black Books http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/DV/ContactPITs.html
First-Cut Draft of 2 February 2004
Abstract
Technology and human ingenuity continue to pose new privacy challenges. During 2003, a new dot.com fashion arose from an odd amalgam of Rolodex address-books, e-communities and dating. Users of these services store personal data on a central server, which can be accessed by other people, and, potentially at least, exploited by the service-operator. There are privacy concerns, of a kind that has been analysed many times before.
The new dimension that these services bring is that they entice users to disclose personal data about their friends, business contacts or acquaintances. That is a disturbing feature, and it requires careful analysis.
-- Roger Clarke http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/ Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd, 78 Sidaway St, Chapman ACT 2611 AUSTRALIA Tel: +61 2 6288 1472, and 6288 6916 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.xamax.com.au/
Visiting Professor in the eCommerce Program, University of Hong Kong Visiting Professor in the Baker Cyberspace Law & Policy Centre, U.N.S.W Visiting Fellow in Computer Science, Australian National University
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