Facebook privacy issues

[Marshmallow]

I've been thinking a lot about Facebook and potential privacy issues with it. It seems that they keep every piece of information you ever enter and don't delete it from their servers even if you delete your account.

Also, there are employers who do Facebook searches before they hire people for jobs. If they find something that they don't like (ex: pictures of you and your friends partying) they won't hire you. This seems unethical.

I found this video when I was searching for something:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wogtTQs8Kzw&feature=player_embedded

What do they mean when they say they will collect information from Instant Messaging services? Does this mean they spy on conversations or what?

And does your information stay in their servers forever?

I wonder if they eavesdrop on your private conversations in your Facebook inbox, too.

As a side note, I couldn't help but notice the comments from people who said stuff like, "look, it's the illuminati symbol on the Information Awareness Office logo!" But this symbol is also on the US dollar. What exactly is this symbol and why is it all over the place? And what does it have to do with an organization called the illuminati? Or is this just another conspiracy theory?

[arthwollipot]

Dude, "Facebook privacy" is an oxymoron. Do not - repeat, Do Not expect any kind of privacy from Facebook.

Disclaimer: I am an enthusiastic user of Facebook. I'm just careful about the kinds of things I put on there.

[Marshmallow]

I guess that what I'm bothered most about is the fact that they collect information about you from other sources (such as newspapers and Instant Messaging) - possibly even if you don't have an account with them. I find that disturbing.

[Darat]

If I told a neighbour something negative about myself, say I said "I use recreational drugs on the weekend" I cannot complain if they repeat that information, or if it gets to someone who will make a decision about me based on that.

I think the problem a lot of people have is that they never realised how little privacy they actually have, the technological advances are merely making this apparent by allowing collation of data that previously would have been impractical on any large scale.

[Ducky]

http://failbooking.com says it all.

Forget the privacy, September never ends.

[JAStewart]

http://www.lamebook.com is far superior.

[Francesca R]

I've been thinking a lot about Facebook and potential privacy issues with it. It seems that they keep every piece of information you ever enter and don't delete it from their servers even if you delete your account.That's because they depend on data like that for revenue (and they are a business). I read recently that Google (who likely have far more potentially revealing info than Facebook, about large numbers of folks) allow you to remove your history, and all the algorithmic inferences they glean from it.

Also, there are employers who do Facebook searches before they hire people for jobs. If they find something that they don't like (ex: pictures of you and your friends partying) they won't hire you. This seems unethical.If they buy data from the company without your knowledge, I agree. Data protection laws would--I think--prevent that in several places. If they just surf for it, it isn't unethical IMO.

Also the very fact that Facebook has (I think) 350 million people on it and (I read somewhere) 2.5 billion photos uploaded each month means that either (i) there is rich potential to discover something dodgy about a large fraction of job applicants. or (ii) the standard of "dodgy" becomes much more liberal than what people fear (since employers' total need for talent doesn't magically shrink just because half of the talent pool just signed up to social networks).

In short, I suspect this is not something to worry about too much.

[Sabrina]

It's things like this that make me only allow my friends to see my profile, and why I don't join the network set up by my company on Facebook.

I view Facebook as a personal networking site, not professional, so I keep them separate. I also am extremely careful what I post to the site for numerous reasons; because despite all the precautions, no website is completely secure, and of course because I prefer to maintain a semi-professional appearance even in my personal life. I see what people have put on their Facebook pages via the two websites posted above and I cringe for how embarrassed they must be that their idiocy is now posted for the entire world to see.

I follow one basic rule of thumb when it comes to putting something on the internet; if I wouldn't want my family, children, or employer to see it, it doesn't go up there. Period. I've had my flings with questionable sites in the past, but overall I've maintained a fairly low profile, Internet-wise, and I intend to keep it that way.

[INRM]

I think facebook has a disturbing privacy policy, or nonexistant privacy policy. The fact that they hold on to every piece of information on everybody forever is a serious problem.

[Darat]

I find what is a more serious problem is that people don't think about what they are doing - if you don't want people to know about something don't put it on a bloody web-page somewhere!

[Mark6]

Also the very fact that Facebook has (I think) 350 million people on it and (I read somewhere) 2.5 billion photos uploaded each month means that either (i) there is rich potential to discover something dodgy about a large fraction of job applicants. or (ii) the standard of "dodgy" becomes much more liberal than what people fear (since employers' total need for talent doesn't magically shrink just because half of the talent pool just signed up to social networks).
I think the latter is an important point which does not get enough attention. Sure, as an employer I may reject a lot of applicants because I found pictures of them drinking funnels or flashing boobs. But if I do that, then sooner or later I will realize I have no applicants left, and position still needs to be filled. With a funnel, if necessary.

And on a longer time scale, in 10-15 years all people making hiring decisions will themselves have a trail of embarassing Internet photos. Which will not make them subject to blackmail (blackmail only works if blackmailer has information nobody else has), but will make them more relaxed, unless they are utter hypocrites. For that matter, previous paragraph is hypothetical -- having drunk funnels myself in college, I would not reject a job applicant just on that basis.

[Mark6]

I am getting more and more convinced that by 2040 a generation will have grown up to whom the concept of "having a secret" will be laughable. Or of "blackmail". Or the idea of having an affair and expecting your spouse not to know it.

Generations of parents would tell their children: "Lies always get discovered eventually" and (in US, anyway) "This will go on your permanent record!" Then children would find out that lies, if skillful enough, do not get found out, and there is no such thing as permanent record. Guess what -- these parental warnings finally became real.

[Region Rat]

For that matter, previous paragraph is hypothetical -- having drunk funnels myself in college, I would not reject a job applicant just on that basis.

Where do I send my resume?

[Mark6]

Where do I send my resume?
http://www.micros.com/Careers/NorthAmerica/

But don't expect funnel drinking to be a plus either...

[ZirconBlue]

http://failbooking.com says it all.

Forget the privacy, September never ends.

Blocked by my company firewall as "Entertainment".

http://www.lamebook.com is far superior.

Blocked by my company firewall as "Tasteless". Lamebook wins.

I view Facebook as a personal networking site, not professional, so I keep them separate.

Agreed. I use Facebook for social networking, and LinkedIn for professional networking, and only have a few people that are in both networks.

[GreyICE]

I find what is a more serious problem is that people don't think about what they are doing - if you don't want people to know about something don't put it on a bloody web-page somewhere!

And don't go to parties where other people take pictures that they might put up on a bloody webpage somewhere. And certainly don't do anything that might garner the attention of someone who might write it down on a webpage somewhere.

Privacy concerns are so much more important than your handwaving dismissal.

[Beerina]

I am getting more and more convinced that by 2040 a generation will have grown up to whom the concept of "having a secret" will be laughable. Or of "blackmail". Or the idea of having an affair and expecting your spouse not to know it.

The younger generation loves the humor of themselves lying around drunk and doing stupid things. It will take a generation for them to move into positions of power before it stops being a black mark on people's reputations w.r.t. hiring.

[Darat]

And don't go to parties where other people take pictures that they might put up on a bloody webpage somewhere. And certainly don't do anything that might garner the attention of someone who might write it down on a webpage somewhere.

Privacy concerns are so much more important than your handwaving dismissal.

Can't see any new privacy concerns in what you posted.

[GreNME]

I view Facebook as a personal networking site, not professional, so I keep them separate.

Precisely. LinkedIn is the FaceBook for professionals. FaceBook is the MySpace for adults. MySpace is the AOL chatroom of the 21st century.

[Ducky]

Precisely. LinkedIn is the FaceBook for professionals. FaceBook is the MySpace for adults. MySpace is the AOL chatroom of the 21st century.

you forgot to throw in myspace being the new livejournal...

[GreNME]

you forgot to throw in myspace being the new livejournal...

No, LiveJournal is the new Geocities/Tripod/Homestead.

[Sabrina]

Precisely. LinkedIn is the FaceBook for professionals. FaceBook is the MySpace for adults. MySpace is the AOL chatroom of the 21st century.

I only use one at a time though; had a Myspace page for a while before switching to Facebook because the privacy settings were better (i.e. no random person could surf the net and find my Facebook page because of the fact that I set it to only be visible to friends, unlike the Myspace). I've considered LinkedIn, but I have yet to see a good reason for joining it at this point. I have a perfectly good network in my company's global address book if I need to find someone; why bother with another?

[GreNME]

LinkedIn is good for sales folks, Business Development folks, small-to-medium businesses wanting to network with a variety of nearby companies, folks looking for employment, or those already employed but interested in keeping feelers out there for other opportunities (without actively trolling job sites or headhunters). Unlike FB, it actually matters in LinkedIn how many of the contacts you have are people you actually know or how many associations/groups you actually have relevant connections to. It's a quick-reference for your professional network when used properly, otherwise it's just another FB-like page with your name on it.

[Mark6]

The younger generation loves the humor of themselves lying around drunk and doing stupid things. It will take a generation for them to move into positions of power before it stops being a black mark on people's reputations w.r.t. hiring.
That's why I said 2040, not 2020.

Or did you respond to one post of mine, but meant to be responding to another?