Facebook Users Complain About Privacy
This past weekend, after my sister found a great pair of Dansko clogs and ordered them online from Zappos.com, her Facebook friends received a newsfeed message that told them she had just "found something cool at Zappos.com." Since she hadn't planned on announcing her purchase to so many people, she quickly deleted the message but not before feeling that her privacy had been invaded.
It turns out Facebook has relationships with online retailers, including Zappos.com, Fandango.com, and Overstock.com, that allow the social networking site to post information when purchases are made. My sister isn't the only one upset by it; the liberal group MoveOn.org started a petition asking Facebook to respect users' privacy and stop the practice. The blog Binary Freedom has asked Facebook not to ruin the holidays by alerting people to their gifts ahead of time.
Facebook has defended itself by pointing out that users can opt out, if they are aware enough to figure out how to do so. (It involves clicking on a box inside your Web browser after transactions or opting out when you next log on to Facebook. My sister, a Web-savvy medical student, didn't notice either option.)
Are those options enough? Would you mind if all your friends were alerted each time you made a purchase? Let me know what you think at alphaconsumer@usnews.com.
Tags: privacy | shopping | Facebook
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Reader Comments
Gulshan Nayenn
You are a thief. We are going to get the money from your parents if you don't refund all of us.
If on the newspapers you name has not been revealed, i will go to Mauritius and report you to all the papers. You gave me a fake ticket. You took money from my debit card twice without authorisation. Then you have the guts to send me a letter telling me your business is going through liquidation? You acted fraudulently and this will be proved.
I hope you will refund me my money if you don't want to be in trouble with justice and all the implications this will involve. I pity the reputation you've buiilt in the UK... stealing from your own people.
Rishi
private and missapropriate information
Dear sir,
My name is gulshan nayenn i use to run a travel agent which recently went into liquidation. As a result of this inconvenience one of the mauritian community newspaper called gazette has been trying to defame me as the editor of that magazine cant have any of the proof to published that legaly on his magazine he actually used face book to defame me and has put wrong information which illegal as i have seek my lawyer and this will be taken seriously. The editor of the magazine is Mr rooben mooroongapillay of Mauritius Gazette.He is using Mauritian vibes on face book.
Hope you will reply to me as soon you receive my message as this matter is really serious my email address is tropicalskyline@yahoo.co.uk
and my mobile is 07810616869 pls call me or reply on my email.
Thank you for your cooperation
Gulshan Nayenn
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