Facebook started to implement changes to the system. After months long bad publicity that Facebook received over their privacy policy and user data handling (Starting back in 2009), FB begun implementation of new rules that applications and games must conform with.

In May 2010, the site was forced to overhaul its privacy settings in response to user concerns.
The moves were welcomed by privacy advocates.

“It is encouraging to see Facebook act on its stated commitment to providing users with simple but real control over their information,” said the US Center for Democracy and Technology. “The changes Facebook announced today represent an important and positive step for the company.” – Source BBC News

According to Bret Taylor on Facebook Blog changes will be made to what data is accessible by third party applications that users can install on their profiles.  Now by default applications and games will be only permitted to access public profile data by default. Users however still will be able to grant permissions for the third parties to access all profile data. The change it mainly intended to clarify what users share with application providers. Application will be obligated to clearly state what data is being shared.

“The majority of people on Facebook actively interact with applications and Facebook-integrated websites every month. In order for these applications and websites to provide social and customized experiences, they need to know a little bit about you. We understand, however, that it’s important that you also have control over what you’re sharing. With this new authorization process, when you log into an application with your Facebook account, the application will only be able to access the public parts of your profile by default. To access the private sections of your profile, the application has to explicitly ask for your permission.” – Source Brat Taylor on Facebook Blog.

I don’t think that will improve users’ privacy on Facebook. This is rather PR action to cool down the Facebook privacy buzz and do nothing significant to improve it. Users’ data is the real value of Facebook and this is where the money is. Facebook is the biggest in the world live market survey tool. If you are a big corporation willing to launch a new product this is where you go first. Ask Facebook what people need or what they talk about etc. So what happens with all that data? Probably it goes on floppy disks and ends up on dusty shelves because no one wants to use it. NOT!  BTW it is usually called statistical data. Remember that Facebook has everything that big industry desire.

“Facebook has indeed changed the nature of privacy on the Internet, in that it actually encourages people to make maximum disclosure of their personal information without regard for the possible consequences,” said Robert Ellis Smith, publisher of Privacy Journal, which since 1974 has tracked the impact of technology and law on privacy.

“Facebook involves lots of young persons who either are not old enough to give meaningful consent or have not had enough life experience to know the consequences.”

The defining initials of our time might be TMI, the text-message shorthand for “too much information.” Over the six years that Facebook has turned its “sharing” service into a global phenomenon approaching a half-billion users, a Nexis search of major newspapers found a 2,000 percent increase in the use of the term “oversharing.”

The hazards of TMI can range from embarrassment and job dismissals to fraud. PleaseRobMe.com, a website that uses Twitter’s search capability, was set up to highlight how people’s willingness to disclose their whereabouts makes their homes vulnerable to burglars. – Source heraldonline.com

One advice – Be wise and manage data you share and be aware of it. Read the privacy policy! Yes, it is boring and small print and it is for a reason – to make you bored with the first paragraph so you would skip straight to “accept and continue” tick box. Once you ticked you state that “I know who is going to be accessing my data, how, for what reason etc.” But in reality accept tick box should be described “I don’t care!” instead.

Then we hear all those voices in media and on the Internet “What they do with our data?” or “They should protect our privacy”. Well, everything is clearly laid out in Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy and other boring write ups that you never read but you always agree with. “I’ll click what you want me to click. Just shut up and give me that Facebook account…” Who would you blame? Facebook or youself?

Are you also becoming a victim of your own “dontcareism”?

Also read on recent PayPal Privacy Policy changes

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