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A NEW REPORT claims that Facebook is in breach of a number of European laws, concerning how much control its 1.39 billion users has over their data.
At the request of the Belgian Privacy Commission, both the ICRI/CIR and iMinds-SMIT conducted a report into what it describes as “an extensive analysis of Facebook’s revised policies and terms,” after it updated its privacy policy for 2015.
First reported by The Guardian, it found that most of Facebook’s new policies and terms were “simply old practices made more explicit.” The default configuration of certain settings like deciding what other Facebook users can access, application settings and settings for advertising was also described as “problematic” and gave users “a false sense of control.”
Some of the issues brought up by the report include:
Placing too much of a burden on its users: Users are expected to navigate the service’s settings to find possible opt-outs, which can be complex and hidden deep within the service. For example, a user can opt-out of appearing as part of Sponsored Stories by not liking content altogether. Also, users are unaware of their appearance in promotional content and how their data is used for advertising purposes.
Unfair contract terms: In comparison to 2013, the report states that Facebook’s new statement of Rights and Responsibilities have “not changed substantially” and a number of violations that were present in 2013 are set to persist in 2015.
Data subject rights: Facebook’s terms do not properly acknowledge the data subject rights of its users. Deleting your profile, for example, is an “all-or-nothing” option and only deletes things you’ve posted. Also, concerns over how the service tracks data and users’ location was highlighted.
Consent: The report states that for consent to be valid, it must be “freely given, specific, informed and unambiguous.”
Given the limited information Facebook provides and the absence of meaningful choice with regard to certain processing operations, it is highly questionable whether Facebook’s current approach satisfies these requirements.
While it mentioned that Facebook’s 2015 Data Use Policy is more explicit about the types of information it collects, the description of purposes was still “as vague and broad as it was in 2013.”
Facebook is hoping to avoid another European privacy investigation and is meeting with the Belgian privacy minister, Bart Tommelein, on Wednesday to persuade him that there were “misunderstandings” about its new policy, according to The Register.
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If you dont like facebook, don’t use it.
Tony add me man!
Easier said than done, Tony.
Facebook… The CIA database for normal people.
Ya know, just in case you step out line..
Go back to sleep everyone. Everything is under control.
Read Facebook and eat crap and then get up for work. Again.
Regardless of Facebook’s policies, people should never forget it’s the internet. Don’t put up any content you would be embarrassed about if the whole world saw it.
They can add as much privacy rules as they like but considering the complexity of these rules it is very likely they’ll at least be flawed in some way, whether they’re misunderstood or have defects.
My problem with Facebook is that there are a lot of very nasty racist groups posting their hateful garbage on it, and to make matters worse they can turn off comments from anyone who disagrees with them so that it appears they have universal support
So do you think groups with distasteful opinions should be silenced, or that their views should be open to challenge and debate? If the former, I disagree, forcing opinions underground doesn’t make them go away; and if the latter, maybe, but would it really make much difference to anyone if you were to challenge the well researched opinions of Jimmy Joe Bob from Southern Alabama? Communication between like minded people has never been as easy as it is today thanks to the internet, yet racism has probably never been less prevalent in society. I’m not sure these things really pose as great a threat as is sometimes made out.
Totally disagree; ignorant, distasteful groups should be allowed to voice their ignorance as much as moderate opinion. Free speech is free speech; at least if everything is all out in the open these distasteful groups can be called on their ignorance.
@ Egg Head
Thank you for your well thought out and reasoned response.
I’m sorry, I did not make myself clear, no I don’t think they should be silenced,but I wonder if it’s a good idea that they should go unchallenged. A lot of impressionable young people read this tripe.
That comes down to parental responsibility, Pius. The Internet is fine as long as you’re able to differentiate between fact and opinionated BS. This knowledge should be imparted to the kids as well. They aren’t stupid; they learn quick enough that you shouldn’t believe everything you hear in the schoolyard or in the street. If they’re properly informed as to the reality that the Internet is largely the same then there’ll be no issue.
Obviously, there are exceptions to this, take the young ones on route to ISIS for example but largely it comes down to parental responsibility in my opinion. If you take the time to explain the reality to the kids there shouldn’t be too many problems.
What’s not to like?
If it was over here the guards would be called and your personal rights ignored, you’d be forced to be a Facebook member and if you complained you would go to jail.your fellow citizens would think this was fine and applaud the judiciary.
people will undoubtedly vent their anger… on Facebook- jesus wept :D
Hello!
Deleted my Facebook a month ago. Best thing I ever did. I don’t ever want to know that you are “going to bed now night peeps” makes me want to scream!
On Facebook you can report false/troll accounts and they do investigate & close the accounts.
Unlike twitter.
You can report twitter accounts ya mad yolk.
If you don’t like Facebook’s policies… DUH don’t use it… These privacy cranks are something else…..
Facebook is only usually used to point out flaws ect because it’s popular, the real truth is that any online account, profile, subject data or whatever is open for abuse as unfortunatly thats what people do, they take the good and turn it bad.
Facebook, although I don’t like it myself is/would be a great tool for social media but even at it’s best I’ve found it to be mainly “Maltesers and a hot chocolate for me to night” followed by loads of “likes” and me too’s (yes I have an account, just don’t use it)
The internet is probably the greatest thing from the twentieth century with the power of knowledge and good, yet probably 90% of it is now misinformation, information gathering & marketing and hatred.
Faceache
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