Facebook Violating Privacy

[sara farr]

Dear MoveOn member,

When you buy a book, movie, or gift online, do you want that information automatically shared with everyone you know?

Last week, the social networking site Facebook began doing just that. Private purchases made by Facebook users on other sites were posted on Facebook for people's co-workers, friends, and random acquaintances to see.1 Why? To benefit corporate advertisers.

Other sites are looking at Facebook's example to see if they can get away with similar privacy breaches. We need to draw a line in the sand—making clear that the wish lists of corporate advertisers must not come before the basic privacy rights of Internet users.

Can you urge Facebook to stop violating privacy rights? If you're on Facebook, join our Facebook group and invite your Facebook friends. If you're not on Facebook, you can sign our petition to Facebook.

You can join the Facebook group "Facebook, stop invading my privacy!" here:
STOP IT YOU JERKS

Click here to sign the petition (see box at right for petition text):
LET ME AT 'EM

This fight is about more than just Facebook users. Sites like Facebook are revolutionizing how we communicate and could transform how we organize around issues together in a 21st century democracy. The question is, will corporate advertisers get to write the rules? Or will these new social networks protect our basic rights—including privacy?

Like our work together for Net Neutrality2, this is fundamentally about the future of the Internet as a public space.

Here's what some people wrote on the public Wall of our Facebook group:
"I made a purchase yesterday for my wife for Christmas...When my wife logged onto Facebook, there was an entry in her news feed that I had bought a ring from Overstock. It had a link to the ring and everything. Christmas ruined."—Sean L. from Massachusetts

"I saw my girlfriend bought an item i had been saying i wanted...so now part of my christmas gift has been ruined. Facebook is ruining christmas!"—Matthew H. from New York

"Facebook, are you kidding me? This is way out of bounds for a program I never opted into."—Matthew F. from Georgia3

By fighting back now—and getting lots of people to join the Facebook group and sign the petition—we can send a strong signal to Facebook and other sites that Internet privacy must be protected.

Thanks for all you do,

–Adam G., Daniel, Marika, Eli, Wes, Karin, and the MoveOn.org Civic Action Team
Tuesday, November 27th, 2007

P.S. Facebook says its users can "opt out" of having their private purchases made public. But the link is easy to miss.4 And even if you do "opt out" for purchases on one site, it doesn't apply to purchases on other sites—you have to keep opting out site by site, week by week, month by month. The obvious solution is to switch to an "opt in" policy, like most other features on Facebook.

Sources:

1. Demonstration of new Facebook feature:
http://civ.moveon.org/facebookprivacy/b ... 3TiD49&t=7

"MoveOn Takes On Facebook," New York Times political blog, November 20, 2007
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3184&id=11708 ... 3TiD49&t=8

2. "Top Ten Examples Of Grassroots Activism In The Net Neutrality Fight"
http://civic.moveon.org/save_the_intern ... TiD49&t=11

"Obama Promises To Reinstate Net Neutrality During First Year In Office—MoveOn Challenges Other Presidential Candidates To Pledge The Same," MoveOn.org Civic Action press release, October 29, 2007
http://civ.moveon.com/releases/071029ne ... obama.html

3. Facebook group "Facebook, stop invading my privacy!"
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3178&id=11708 ... TiD49&t=12

4. Demonstration of new Facebook feature:
http://civ.moveon.org/facebookprivacy/b ... TiD49&t=13

Facebook description of Beacon feature:
http://www.facebook.com/business/?beacon

[LisaJackson]

I don't understand how this works. If I use my Ad-Aware can this still happen? How do they know I'm buying something somewhere else?

[kbadr]

I noticed this a few weeks ago, I guess right when they started doing it. I saw a creepy little note on Facebook "Kareem purchased these boots from Zappos.com!", and promptly wrote Zappos a long complaint. I'm glad to see Facebook is getting shit for this.

[Wesley]

"Wesley just sent $6500 to Nigeria in exchange for $4.5 million.

[mpbrockman]

Michael just bought a copy of "The Hacker's Guide to Knocking Out All of Facebook's Servers!"

P.S. Petition signed and snooty note left.

[ChrisTrew.Com]

Last time I got exactly what I wanted for Christmas it was also ruined.

[sara farr]

Dear MoveOn member,

Big news! Last night, Facebook changed their policy and announced that no private purchases made on other websites would be displayed publicly on Facebook "without users proactively consenting."1

This is a huge victory for online privacy—and shows how regular people can band together to make a difference as the rules of the Internet get written.

Facebook deserves credit for taking a huge step in the right direction. Their decision will hopefully set a precedent for all websites—that the wish lists of corporate advertisers must not be put before the basic rights of Internet users.
When sites like Facebook listen to Internet users and take big steps in the right direction, a little positive feedback goes a long way in encouraging them to keep it up. Can you send an email thanking Facebook today?

Email Facebook here:
privacy@facebook.com

Help us track our progress—let us know you emailed Facebook here:
http://civ.moveon.org/call?cp_id=646&tg ... gRHKQO&t=4

The Washington Post, New York Times, and media outlets around the world cited the 50,000 Internet users who joined MoveOn's Facebook group and online petition as critical in getting Facebook to reconsider their policy. The New York Times called it a "mass protest" and London's Telegraph newspaper said we achieved "dramatic change."2

Here are a few of the many comments posted on our Facebook page dedicated to this issue:

* "This is a pretty powerful feeling. Honestly, I didn't think that people could make changes like this through civil action. I am very proud to be a part of this!"—Sean L. from Massachusetts, whose personal story about Facebook privacy was featured in today's Washington Post.
* "SUCCESS! Congratulations everyone! Don't know about you guys, but I feel much better about using Facebook now."—David G. from New York
* "The changes sound good to me."—Rachel H. from South Carolina3

Taking a moment to give Facebook positive feedback will let them know they made the right decision, and will encourage them to keep listening to Internet users when making future decisions.

Thanks for all you do—and for being part of this important fight.

–Adam G., Daniel, Marika, Eli, Wes, Karin, and the MoveOn.org Civic Action Team
Friday, November 30th, 2007

P.S. Here is an excerpt and link to today's Washington Post article—more articles are below.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3217&id=11735 ... gRHKQO&t=5

Sources:

1. "Facebook adds safeguards on purchase data," Los Angeles Times, November 30, 2007
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3218&id=11735 ... gRHKQO&t=6

2. "Feeling Betrayed, Facebook Users Force Site to Honor Their Privacy," Washington Post, November 30, 2007
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3217&id=11735 ... gRHKQO&t=7

"Facebook Retreats on Online Tracking," New York Times, November 30, 2007
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3219&id=11735 ... gRHKQO&t=8

"Facebook bows to user pressure in privacy row," The Telegraph, November 30, 2007
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3220&id=11735 ... gRHKQO&t=9

"Protests force Facebook to change," BBC News, November 30, 2007
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3221&id=11735 ... RHKQO&t=10

"Facebook Promises More Consumer Privacy," Associated Press, November 30, 2007
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3222&id=11735 ... RHKQO&t=11

"Facebook Bows to Privacy Protest," New York Times Political Blog, November 29, 2007
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3223&id=11735 ... RHKQO&t=12

"Facebook Dims the Beacon Spotlight," Business Week, November 30, 2007
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3224&id=11735 ... RHKQO&t=13

"Facebook does an about-face to soothe privacy advocates," San Jose Mercury News, November 30, 2007
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3225&id=11735 ... RHKQO&t=14

3. Facebook group, "Facebook, stop invading my privacy!"
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3226&id=11735 ... RHKQO&t=15