The Privacy Issues with Facebook

Facebook is one of the world’s most-popular electronic social networks, used by individuals, organizations, and corporations alike to share news, interests, opinion, and anything else that they think is worth sharing.  But while Facebook gives everyone a free, open, worldwide electronic forum, there are some things that people would rather share only with a more limited audience, such as their family and close friends. Or in some cases, just keep to themselves entirely.  And while Facebook today has more resources available that can help its users take more control of their privacy, as recently as 2010, not only Mark Zuckerburg, Facebook’s founder, had said that the “age of privacy” is dead, but Facebook had features that favor advertisers more than users, with several hurdles that its users had to jump in order to get to their comfort zone in terms of privacy. (Brodkin, 2010)

Legitimate Claims to Privacy

In the United States, the privacy of citizens is guaranteed by the First Amendment, which deals with freedom of speech; and the Fourth Amendment, which is about unreasonable search and seizure, as well as the right to due process.  In addition, there are also several laws on the books that guarantee privacy in various situations; these laws include the Privacy Act of 1974, and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998. Privacy laws passed since 1973 follow a protocol mandated by the Federal Trade Commission, called “Fair Information Practices”. (Laudon & Laudon, 2014)

Sharing Privacy Controls

The privacy controls available on Facebook give the user flexibility on who should see what posts or photos.  The allowable “audience” can range from everyone, to just their circle of Facebook friends, to just their close friends, or even just the users themselves.  These controls also help enable the user to control how much of their personal information that their friends, or even total strangers, could see.  ("Facebook privacy controls," 2010) However, just like seat belts, privacy controls only work when you use them – a Consumer Reports survey in 2012 reported that 13 million users in the US do not use privacy controls, or are not aware of them. Also, 28% share their posts outside their circle of friends, while only 37% utilize privacy controls in any fashion.  As many users are rather open, or even frank, on personal topics such as drinking and romance, this is of concern. ("Facebook users," 2012)

Facial Recognition

The usage of facial recognition on Facebook makes it more easier for users to “tag” (identify) their friends in the photos they upload.  However, privacy advocates have concern that people could be tagged on the photos of strangers without their knowledge. In addition, facial recognition could be used as a way to push targeted advertising to Facebook’s users. As the use of facial recognition had been used by other institutions and firms for marketing and security purposes, its use by Facebook, used worldwide by many millions of people, was seen as a very serious threat to privacy. (Mello, Jr., 2011) Soon after privacy concerns became widespread, Facebook announced that it would make it more easier for its users to opt out of ads generated by facial recognition, as well as having a say in whether or not they should be tagged in others’ pictures. (" Facebook Facial," 2011)

References:

Laudon, K. C., & Laudon, J. P. (2014). Management information systems: Managing the digital firm. (13th ed., pp 132-133). Boston, Massachusetts: Pearson Learning Solutions.

Brodkin, J. (2010, May 06). Consumer Groups Hammer Facebook Privacy Violations in Federal Complaint; FTC Urged to Overturn Recent Facebook Privacy Changes.  Network World, Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.db24.linccweb.org/ps/i.do?&id=GALE|A225847177&v=2.1&u=lincclin_spjc&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w

Facebook privacy controls revamped for simplicity 796508. (2010, May 26). eWeek, Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.db24.linccweb.org/ps/i.do?&id=GALE|A227430698&v=2.1&u=lincclin_spjc&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w

Facebook users by the million ignore privacy controls Consumer Reports 567381 (2012, May 03). eWeek, Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.db24.linccweb.org/ps/i.do?&id=GALE|A288579505&v=2.1&u=lincclin_spjc&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w

Mello, Jr., J. P. (2011, December). Facial recognition beyond Facebook: photo matching on social networks is just the start. As government officials and advertisers use the technology, will your privacy suffer? PC World, 29(12), 13. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.db24.linccweb.org/ps/i.do?&id=GALE|A272737865&v=2.1&u=lincclin_spjc&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w

Facebook Facial Recognition Gets Easier Opt Out Jepsen 606742 (2011, July 27). eWeek, Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.db24.linccweb.org/ps/i.do?&id=GALE|A262669730&v=2.1&u=lincclin_spjc&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w

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