When I first launched this blog almost three years ago, it alternated items from my running life (Run) with my former job covering information security (DMZ). It was an odd fit that loosened considerably after I joined the RBF and fell apart entirely when I left journalism and IT security. I think for this year I will once again pepper this space with the occasional paranoia post because I still believe in this blog’s original mission: to make us all a little better informed about the digital and physical worlds.
With that, I today appeal directly to all of you who use Facebook. A great debate is currently underway, prompted by a big-time blogger who had his Facebook account disabled after he introduced a script to pull data from the thousands of friends he’d accumulated. (It should be noted that, despite his rock star status, this guy accepts pretty much anyone who wishes to be his friend.) The key issue is: who owns the data within the social graph? Is it the user who collected them? Or the company that stores them? Does this violate Facebook users’ privacy? Or did they sign away those rights when they accepted the terms of service?
This type of data scraping will no doubt intensify in the coming year, whether sanctioned or not. So, my dear friends (and two daughters), be careful with the data you gather and give out on social networking sites. I want you to save face.
10 comments:
Facebook is a monumental time sucking waste of energy, but then again, I'm over 40.
well besides your name (which may be enough!) there's not much to steal, unless you put your SS# on there. I don't understand what data is at risk.
It is a bit supprising how many people don't realize they are sharing some embarassing stuff with the world.
ok, so i'm dumb. what EXACTLY did he do and why is it harmful?
OK then - bring back the techy posts! It's always good to remind us to be careful.
Soon (if not already) there'll be loads of similar social networking websites. Facebook is a phase-book.
I always wondered what the DMZ meant - it's not a term we use over here - but it's good to know now.
I liked the Dec 28 post very much - thanks.
Happy 2008!
Interesting post considering that just today I turned down a beer a friend sent me in Facebook because I noticed the small print that said by accepting the beer, I allowed the creator of the beer application to collect information from my site. Like someone else's comment, I'm not sure what information they might get from me but I'm not a heavy Facebook user. I think there are applications and features that you pay for, so there could possibly be financial or other personal information stored somewhere. Probably though, they're just collecting information so they can personalize their advertising on your page. My LinkedIn profile has very customized ads based on my profession.
Blogger is as high tech and personal as I get. Hopefully that means I am safe.
I have heard of "facebook", not really sure what that is about..
I guess you always have to take care what you put put there, no matter what soical interactive site they have..
I'm not on facebook, but I am on LinkedIn. I don't put anything out there I would one day be embarrassed to admit to my kids.
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