Have you heard negative stuff about Facebook and wondered should you be there, or should your kids be there. Or are you not a member and wondering whether you should join the "coolest" of web communities?
In any case you need to read this.
About a year ago if you had asked me or any experienced Information Technology professional which web enterprise most derserved the title The Evil Empire, most of us would have said Google. Things change quickly on the web though.
Some time ago, after being invited to join Facebook by one of my contacts from blog.co.uk, I posted a blog on the subject of how pointless the site is. There were already rumours about the more sinister aspects of Facebook, their intrusive gathering and publishing of personal data, their plans to sell members proflies and information on online activity to advertisers and a general disregard for the ehics of business.
Since that post was made, more information has been leaking out about Facebook's dubious business methods and the connection their founder and financial backer has with certain neocon and it would not be exaggerating to say neofascist right wing organisations in the USA.
It is all pretty unpleasant. But you don't have to take my word for it, read
a damning analysis of the Facebook culture. Its a long artcle and scarey stuff, but its worth the effort.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/jan/14/facebook
rate
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 16
I've been around the 'net and IRC since about three weeks after Al Gore invented the Internet. I think all online communities are just fine -- until people get involved. Then, it's just the same crap, different flies.
I guess I'll have to un-join. I will see if I can find out more about Beacon on the web. Supposedly, you can disable it; but it shouldn't be necessary.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beacon_(Facebook)
"By using Facebook, you are consenting to have your personal data transferred to and processed in the United States ... We may be required to disclose user information pursuant to lawful requests, such as subpoenas or court orders, or in compliance with applicable laws. We do not reveal information until we have a good faith belief that an information request by law enforcement or private litigants meets applicable legal standards. Additionally, we may share account or other information when we believe it is necessary to comply with law, to protect our interests or property, to prevent fraud or other illegal activity perpetrated through the Facebook service or using the Facebook name, or to prevent imminent bodily harm. This may include sharing information with other companies, lawyers, agents or government agencies."
Now, if only all the silly teenagers outwith the USA would come to the same decision... I strongly suspect that none of them have realised that all their personal info will be stored (for however long the site decides) in a foreign country and some of them are barely in their teens!
You will be even more exasperated when trying to delete your account. It is only possible to make your profile invisible, they keep your personal data and continue to trak you online activities.
If you quit, then empty you cookies file it will help but you are still not gone from their databese.
The CIA should not be too much of a worry, its the commercial interests they share your interests with that are really sinister.
You can disable Beacon links but that only stops the poisting of messages concerning your activities online, Facebook are still recording you. Deleteing their cookies by emptying your cookies folder helps. Cookies will be reloaded if you logon again though.
My pleasure
Tel you how ~I really feel?
These ****ing ****s can **** their m*********ing fascist conspiracy as far as I'm concerned.
My concern is not over who they admit to sharing info with. So long as you don't order online supplies of acetone and hydrogen peroxide you are pretty safe, and our UK hosts are required by law to open their files to Military Intelligence.
It is what they don't reveal about plans to share your info with commercial sites who will use it to "target" you with advertising that is dangerous. Especially when we understand what forms that targeting may take.
End of.......!
Academics are the last people who should be allowed near an unsecured computer connection. If the can do something they will, without a thought for the possible consequences. These are the kind of people who as kids, if they got a puppy for a present, would cut it up in pieces to see how it worked.
I'll stop there before I really get going.