I take my privacy pretty seriously. I like being anonymous, and I think it is my right for people to know nothing about me. However, to recieve certain benefits I can accept exposing a certain amount of my personal information in return. For example I am happy to share my name, address and age in exchange for a driver’s license. To me that is a fair exchange. However, I am not willing to exchange a photograph of my face and my fingerprints to enter Japan.
Recently Facebook has added the Beacon application which essentially takes your online activity and publishes it to all your Facebook friend’s newsfeeds. This isn’t an ethically grey area, it is as black as midnight. Essentially it turns you into a spokesperson for that particular retailer or product.
Now you can probably think of something you have purchased that you would prefer people didn’t know about. Perhaps you even purchased it online. (maybe an erotic book on Amazon?) But maybe you didn’t. In anycase, users have complained their entire Christmas shopping getting published to everyone ruining the surprise.
Users can opt out of it, but it is a small pop up in the bottom of your screen and is on the retailer’s site so you probably aren’t looking for it. Also it only pops up for a second then it goes away. Some retailers are banking on users getting used to the idea, since lets face it, most people will accept their privacy getting stripped away rather than raise a fuss.
Moveon.org is lobbying to have it be an opt in program, rather than an opt out program and have started an online group and petition. Facebook is arguing that sharing this information with your friends isn’t broadcasting and therefore not really a violation of your privacy rights.
As more and more applications get made for Facebook, you privacy gets smaller and smaller. Most of these apps have the condition that they can collect information about users, which is why I don’t add anyones. Like who really cares if “John has bitten you with VAMPIRE BITE” it is a poke with a different theme. Whatever.
The real issue, and I know this because I am a web analyst, is the potential for 1 to 1 marketing. Most places look at broad user data. “These customers who arrived via this banner did X. Therefore we can draw the following conclusions…” I know that is a bit vague but the important thing to note is that I am dealing with a group of users. That is all I know about them. They did something. I can guess at their age, gender and demographic details, but they are still anonymous.
With Facebook having that HUGE amount of personal information the potential to misuse it is equally huge. That kind of personal information means advertisers can, with laser accuracy feed you advertising and various marketing materials. And perhaps you like that. Personally I don’t, and I am not the only one who sees potential issues.
While Moveon.org is trying to change Facebook’s policies I took a look at my own policies. I realized while it was nice to get in touch with old friends, I really didn’t care that Sue had added the “magic bouncing flufffy pony” application, or that Bob “is so hung over” it doesn’t enrich my life. So I deactivated my account.
Plus that whole Facebook/CIA connection gives me the creeps.