Facebook privacy issues: a New York Times infographic

There has been some talk about Facebook‘s controversial privacy issues of late. With the recent introduction of Open Graph, Facebook allowed third party access to their users’ personal data – specifically things they like and dislike. In order to keep one’s data private (or, a private as it gets on the World Wide Web), users now have to go through an extensive process in order to hide their data from random third party applications. It took me about fifteen minutes going through dozens of steps to set my privacy settings, and even then, I found that I had missed some things out.

The controversy lies in Facebook not communicating properly with their users and telling them clearly what was happening with Open Graph and how it would affect them. Then the whole resurfacing of a message that Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg sent out in 2003, where he called Facebook users (then) “dumb fucks” for trusting him with their personal data. Tsk tsk. That wasn’t very nice, Mr Zuckerberg. But I forgive him, he was 19 and had just created one of the fastest growing phenomenons of the World Wide Web. Bringing up a tiny thing like that from years ago isn’t going to do anyone any good. Why bother?

Mashable’s Ben Parr talks about the whole Facebook hooha on Al-Jazeera:

He also wrote a fantastic article on Mashable, arguing that the whole privacy issue shouldn’t completely fall on Facebook’s massive shoulders. I absolutely agree, 100%. He said of the video: “Don’t put anything online that you don’t want your mother to see.” I have always stood by that rule, though I admit, I do let some things slip through the cracks. Silly pictures of not-very-mother-friendly drunken debauchery? Been there, done that. If I get called out for something I left online, I’m not going to blame Facebook. It was my responsibility to manage my data that I put on the web. This is the World Wide Web! I’m sure most of you can understand that it certainly doesn’t equate to “privacy”. The moment you put something up on the Web, you’re publishing it to an audience. Therefore it is your responsibility to manage what you publish. On the other hand, yes, I say it again, Facebook could/should have done more in communicating with their users about how their personal data will/may be used.

Some outraged users are going as far as planning a Facebook massacre, otherwise known as Quit Facebook Day. This solemn day is planned to happen on 31st May 2010, and at last count, there have been 2,422 attendees. This compared to the hundreds and millions of people on Facebook; certainly doesn’t seem like it will make a dent in Facebook’s rep. What does it tell us about Facebook users? How much do the majority really care about privacy settings? What about you? This whole issue certainly hasn’t motivated me to delete my Facebook account. Will you join the other 2,422 on 31st May 2010?