Some people (like our website’s founding editor) were born without a filter. Others wisely contemplate what they are about to put into the marketplace of ideas.
Of course if you use Facebook (and all of us do), it turns out there’s no distinction …
Get this: The social media giant tracks (and saves) your keystrokes … meaning it knows (and keeps) what you type even if you don’t press the “enter” or “return” button.
“The code that powers Facebook still knows what you typed—even if you decide not to publish it,” reports Jennifer Golbeck of Slate. “It turns out that the things you explicitly choose not to share aren’t entirely private.”
Wait … how does Golbeck know this? Easy: A pair of Facebook employees tracked the “self-censorship behavior” of five million English speaking users for a recent research project.
Wow …
“That’s just creepy,” Facebook user Tamara Goff said.
We agree …
Just this week Facebook was one of eight tech giants to demand reforms to the federal government’s Orwellian domestic spying network.
“Reports about government surveillance have shown there is a real need for greater disclosure and new limits on how governments collect information,” Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said. “The US government should take this opportunity to lead this reform effort and make things right.”
But it was a quote from Microsoft’s top lawyer Brad Smith that really hit the nail on the head.
“People won’t use technology they don’t trust,” Smith said.
Facebook isn’t likely to face a mass exodus as a result of this revelation, but it will certainly give many users cause for pause. And it raises a legitimate question: Is Facebook being hypocritical in attacking the government for privacy violations?
Let’s hope the company follows its CEO’s advice and “makes things right” by doing away with this invasive policy …
21 comments
I’m certain Gmail does the same, they save your work every time you type.
I don’t want to be alive for the certain shitstorm that would occur if a current or ex-girlfriend got access to that data.
Excellent priorities. Frack the #NSA. If Momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy. Mmmm Hmmm
Of course they do this. Google and Microsoft and Apple and all of those companies putting up a front like they don’t want to do this shit have historically done all kinds of anti-privacy things, both for their own use and the government’s.
Privacy on the internet doesn’t exist, and when it does, government shuts it down in the blink of an eye, example: Lavabit.
If Big Brother can’t see everything you do, the terrorists will nuke you! Submit! Obey! Follow!
Not only that, there are terrorists behind every bush and shrub in your yard, waiting to do you in. Just ask Lindsey!
I don’t like what Facebook is doing – but the major difference every on keeps glossing over is that a) you can opt out of using face book if you want -i don’t use it anyway, b) facebook doesnt have any domimion over me, my liberty/incarceration tax dollars property et cetera, the state and federal government are very different in respect to both a) and b)
Thing is though, you can bet they share ANY and EVERY bit of information about you and your account that government agents ask it for.
I accidently typed fits news while facebook was open, I was soon deluged with requests from Mulvaney to send $$$.
Damn, similar thing happened to TBG. ‘Cept TBG started receiving checks from some dude named Howie Rich and late night slurred calls from ” Shthrikki *hic* Nikki Baybee” (?)
I stopped using Facebook in late 2009 and have not been back. Only a fool uses it. People bitch about the NSA and all its spying but they will freely go to Facebook and let everyone know they are taking the dog out to poop. Screw Facebook.
Another thing I don’t like. Other political websites like Huffington Post require you to now verify your identity and one way to do that is to sign in to Facebook. If you don’t think this little punk Zuckerberg running Facebook is planning to own everyone’s identity one day, and to use it for malevolent purposes, I will sell you beachfront property in Abbeville.
I suppose someone COULD “screw” Facebook.. but it would be kinda like the Heisman award show – a virtual experience, which was completely boring, except for the eight seconds when they divulge who won.
Like X 1,000!!!!!!
Now I know why that whorehouse in Parhump keeps sending me messages – “willie you need to go ahead and complete your weekend getaway reservation”
UFOs AND Ho’s? Those’re some heavy hobbies..
I use a virtual keyboard. Would this make a difference? As far as I am concerned, no. Seems my Carlie (AKA Little-Bit) is fond of sleeping on the keyboard…
http://freevirtualkeyboard.com/
Now for some more news on not trusting technology, as in an Obamacare exchange. A couple in Washington state signed up for the exclusively Democrat signature domestic policy, Obamacare, using a federally funded (tax revenue funded) exchange.
They gave their bank account information (routing number, account number) to set up an automatic premium payment on 12-24-13. Turns out their account was hit for 800.00 last week! They tried logging in to their account at the exchange only to find the site down. They called the the exchange about their missing money without anyone answering the phone. Finally, they posted their problem on Facebook. Then their bank account was hit AGAIN for 800.00 giving them a negative bank balance!
http://www.kgw.com/news/Enrollees-report-erroneous-debits-by-WA-Healthplanfinder-235244701.html
Republican hackers again.
Well, I guess they know I’m into chubby porn.
* Don’t feel like the Lone Ranger.*
*Oh crap.*
*TBG didn’t type that! *
*TBG only thought it!*
*WTF?*
*The Sta-Puft Marshmallow Man*
*Gozer*
*AAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*
So many people have talked about leaving facebook, but they never say where they go instead. For me it’s Ravetree. I just want people to start telling everyone what privacy-based social sites they are leaving facebook for. Let’s promote these sites and get the sheeple off facebook.
Never been on facebook, don’t know/care how to use it but i understand TEA party types have a big hard on for it.
Serves the right-wing nuts right as far as I’m concerned.
Private business (especially insurance companies) know more about you and your personal habits/traits than Uncle Sugar ever will.
And that’s a fact!!!
And “FITS” is surprised about this?????
Well Mr. Folks….if you read this article and then look at my Facebook feed. You see an example of how to use Facebook.
http://www.stripes.com/news/sigar-millions-spent-on-incinerators-in-afghanistan-that-were-never-used-1.257923
http://www.militarytimes.com/comments/article/20131216/NEWS/312160002/Report-New-trash-incinerators-Afghanistan-never-used-by-U-S-
http://www.postandcourier.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20131215%2FPC16%2F131219641#_=_
The question is….how fast will it take you to realize what is NOT visible..?
Boomerang 909, Checkmate, move Wil Folks ahead 3 SPAWAR Atlantic spaces and move Brian Hicks ahead 3 Military Times spaces, wager 3 Erin Brockovich bitcoins, Facebook SMIRKS, Sparklecity, Nancy Mace, Pintarest MASH, RADAR, Sgt Shultze
Kelly Payne is having fun at the Governors Christmas Party tonight! All I can say is, “MEN THAT HAVE SOME TYPE OF POWER AND INFLUENCE…..WATCH OUT!!!! SHE IS ON THE PROWL!