To date, Facebook has 500 million users. Of those users, how many opt-in for Facebook’s new face-recognition technology? All of us- until we opt-out, that is.
The technology, Facebook claims, was created to assist users in tagging their friends in photos that they upload. But, before you go thanking them, experts say there is a different motive. "Facebook users thought they were simply tagging their friends. Turns out Facebook was building an image profile database to automate online identification," says Marc Rotenberg, executive director of a privacy group based in Washington called The Electronic Privacy Information Center.
The company claims that, "If for any reason someone doesn't want their name to be suggested, they can disable the feature in their Privacy Settings.” Still, news of the new technology has some experts feeling uneasy about user privacy online. "Our concern, as usual, is that Facebook is making changes to its privacy and creating new features without giving people sufficient notice and giving them a choice as to whether they want to participate," says Chris Conley from the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California.
Privacy is an assumed right to many internet users. However, users may not be as private as we think we are when we’re online. Many companies bank on the fact that the average Joe isn’t going to read through the short novel that they call their “Terms & Conditions.” That initial lack of interest in your own privacy when signing up for anything online could cost you more than you’re willing to pay.
Aside from those sites and services you willingly opt into, did you know that lack of online privacy can even be linked to freeware that you download to avoid breaching your privacy? That’s right. Some freeware anti-malware, anti-spyware programs do just that: download their own spyware to collect your data to sell in order to make a profit.
What can you do?
-Best thing? Don’t put your personal information online.
-The second best thing you can do is READ! When you sign an agreement, they are legally allowed to do whatever you granted them permission to do- whether you like it or not.
-Create a dummy email account to use for sites that you’re unsure of, that require your email address.
-Update your privacy settings on any and all sites that have the option. If they give you the option, chances are your settings aren’t as protective as they could be as a default.
-Always look to make sure the address bar reads https://www…. Before you enter any login or personal information, not just http://www…. The “s” after the http tells you that the site is secure, meaning it’s a lot safer than without.
-The Privacy Alliance has tips and tricks on how to maintain your online privacy and keep you safe while surfing the net.
Always remember the golden online rule, when it comes to protecting yourself and your personal information online: you are only as safe as you allow yourself to be.
No comments:
Post a Comment