[Web4lib] Re: Social utility sites

[Larry Schwartz]

Karen Van Godtsenhoven wrote:
> Dear all,
> 
> Positive positions towards Facebook as a social utility worry me a bit.
> Has anyone read the following article on the collaboration of Facebook
> with intelligence services?
> 
> http://www.commongroundcommonsense.org/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t349
> 49.html 
> 
> I realize it's the user's choice whether or not to share his/her
> personal info, but I think people should be made 'as aware as possible'
> of the consequences of 'joining up'.
> 
> Or am I being  paranoid?
> 
> Thanks for sharing your opinion on this.
> 

I took a look at the Facebook privacy policy.  Though I can't speak to 
the connections between Facebook and the agencies and individuals 
mentioned in the link, I did note that the quote below from the Common 
Ground blog does not match Facebook's current privacy policy:

"Some of the aspects of the privacy policy are downright creepy and 
confusing. This particular gem is especially disturbing: "Thefacebook 
also collects information about you from other sources, such as 
newspapers and instant messaging services. This information is gathered 
regardless of your use of the Web Site." And there's no telling when the 
privacy policy may change. As of when this was written (July 1, 2005), 
the policy was effective as of June 28, 2005."

Current policy:

"Facebook may also collect information about you from other sources, 
such as newspapers, blogs, instant messaging services, and other users 
of the Facebook service through the operation of the service (e.g., 
photo tags) in order to provide you with more useful information and a 
more personalized experience."

"Who knows where the information they collect about these three million 
college students, alumni, and professors is going, or what they intend 
to do with it."  Indeed, who knows?

-- 
Larry Schwartz, Collection Management Librarian
Livingston Lord Library
Minnesota State University Moorhead
1104 7th Ave., S.
Moorhead, MN  56563
(218) 477-2353 (vox)  (218) 477-5924 (fax)
http://www.mnstate.edu/schwartz
http://www.myspace.com/msumlarry

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