Facebook's Expansion Triggers Political Backlash

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With all the world’s problems fixed, all crimes solved and hunger made a thing of the past, politicians have now turned their attention towards fixing the single most pressing issue facing the general public today… Facebook security.

Four senators said Tuesday that Facebook needs to make it easier for its 400 million users to protect their privacy as the site opens more avenues for them to share their interests and other personal information. The Federal Trade Commission already had been examining the privacy and data collection practices of Facebook and other social networks, the agency confirmed Tuesday.
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You are wrong Steve, it isn't that all the world's problems are fixed or all the crimes have been solved. This is simply a matter of doing what parents won't. What is wrong with that?
 
Kenworth said:
You are wrong Steve, it isn't that all the world's problems are fixed or all the crimes have been solved. This is simply a matter of doing what parents won't. What is wrong with that?
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That is part of the problem right there. Why should people be parents when the government I pay for out the ass can do it for them?
 
Kenworth said:
You are wrong Steve, it isn't that all the world's problems are fixed or all the crimes have been solved. This is simply a matter of doing what parents won't. What is wrong with that?
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Oh....everything. It's not the job of the government to be your mommy or daddy (if it even could be said that there is a legitimate job for a government in the first place, but that's neither here nor there for the purposes of this discussion).

If people don't lock their homes or cars, do you think it's the job of the government to do it for them? Or to mandate self-locking doors? And aren't there bigger issues facing us than Facebook (the new AO Hell!) security?
 
This has nothing to do with the government trying to parent children. This is just another dynamic of the use and distribution of personal information online, something that the FTC and other parts of the government take a strong interest in, thankfully (usually) in our favor.

It's not always perfect, but all you guys complaining would have far more to whine about if things like the FTC didn't exist.
 
We all need to do this:

Step back and look at what we've become and what our government is doing. We need to actively cut down on the amount the government, its reach, and authority it has created and wants to create. There are so many more important things that I government could be doing like Steve inferred.

I think sometimes we forget that the government is made up of people that can be voted out of office. We need a concentrated movement to return some sense to Washington.
 
riot8ap said:
We all need to do this:

Step back and look at what we've become and what our government is doing. We need to actively cut down on the amount the government, its reach, and authority it has created and wants to create. There are so many more important things that I government could be doing like Steve inferred.

I think sometimes we forget that the government is made up of people that can be voted out of office. We need a concentrated movement to return some sense to Washington.
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Words, words, words! Bla bla bla bla.

Less talk, more action. (Just implying that this is all I hear all the time; always ranting and so forth -- nothing ever happens, changes, or gets done.)

Also, skip the bread and circus this time. >.<
 
If you live in NY, Colorado, Alaska, or Minnisota bitch to your reps. This is a complete waste of Gov. Any info Facebook has people willingly gave them!!! I would think they would be sending more of their time reading the healthcare bill they just passed!! I really doubt they have each read every page of it nor understand it!!!
 
So no one cares about the fact that the application developers are no longer obliged to delete the information given to them about users after 24 hours and can now keep it indefinitely?
 
I just don't even know where to start.

So I'll just post the obvious answer:

government03.jpg
 
FB is as good as it gets (on the Internet, anyway) when it comes to privacy. They let you easily control, on a per-user basis, who can see each item you post. You can choose a different set of privacy settings for each individual post, or you can just use your default privacy settings. A few months ago, FB revamped their privacy setting interface to make it easier for users to understand. Each user was presented with a popup upon logging in, explaining the new settings and encouraging users to update them.

Also, one of my favorite features of FB is that you can delete any post at any time; the post and every reference to it will vanish instantly, almost in a 1984-esque fashion, usually with no record that the post ever existed. Try doing that in one of Google's apps.

I'm fairly certain these senators have never used FB before. :rolleyes:
 
Find it rather amusing that everyone's angry at the government for looking out for people's privacy. I can't seriously imagine anyone actually agrees that FB's policy should be to opt out over opt in for sharing your personal information.

And think on that for a second, just how many websites out there have information about you, from purchases you made for instance. What if those sites, that you may never visit again, decide to give you the option to 'opt out' but if you don't, the start sending your info to whoever they wish. Think on that.
 
I'm not a fan of social networking... I can't see a need for it personally but that aside lets get to the point.

Government is interfering enough in our lives (I live in the UK) so more intervention is NOT WELCOME.

If facebook is intentionally duping people by making it really hard or awkward to opt-out of this stuff then they should be told to sort it, however, people opt in to the service by creating an account as far as I am concerned. Facebook are a private entity, if people sign up and give away all their information (earlier statement regarding duping notwithstanding) then thats their problem... not the Governments.

I have never created an account but I am told it is a confusing mess to navigate the settings... its probably delibarate imo :)
 
Well for the majority of people outside of this forum, they are ignorant when it comes to protecting there information. FB is not user friendly when it comes to the "normal" user. Normal user meaning they couldn't find their ass with both hands. But like the poster stated above,"What you don't put on the site, "they" can't get from the site..."
 
I'm all for having facebook shape up on their privacy. I don't like the precedent that anyone and everyone can obtain and sell my information to anywhere. Go Privacy.


Having said that..... when government steps in, it only makes matters worse. 2 wrongs don't make a right. And when government steps in, they make 5 wrongs to make one thing right. We don't need Gov. babysitting us and our children. Just look out America's public school system and the results to see if Government does a good job. Are kids getting smarter? Are kids more disciplined? Is there less violence? Is it worse than before? Does it cost more than before? Do our senators and presidents send their kids to public schools?
 
goverment raged

facebook failed, everyone just /quit and join the new way to connect to people, IRL!
 
why waste tax payer money for the government to step in an 'regulate' this when we all can do it ourselves?

i mean its one thing for the FCC to do its job, but if you start saying that they should regulate social networks becuase of privacy issues, then id say they also need to start regulating everything privacy related...

I think its about time more people took it apon themselves to protect whatever information they dont want getting out. Even with all the rules or laws government could pass, your personal information is still vulnerable and could still be taken. Its still ultimately up to you to not share info that you dont want getting out. If you dont want your personal info getting out over facebook, then dont post it or dont sign up. Its not like facebook is a right of every american lol. Same goes for twitter and myspace.

People are so quick to get all up in arms when it turns out the information they share on facebook, twitter, or myspace gets out, without thinking for one second that they could have done much more to prect themselves. If it really matters to you, then drop the service that you feel doesnt do enough on its end, but whats even more valuable is to take matters into your own hands.
 
Cerulean said:
Words, words, words! Bla bla bla bla.

Less talk, more action. (Just implying that this is all I hear all the time; always ranting and so forth -- nothing ever happens, changes, or gets done.)

Also, skip the bread and circus this time. >.<
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At least my post was constructive. Maybe you should take your own advice and do something rather than sit on your laurels and "bla blah blah" as you call it. BTW what the heck is "bread and circus"?
 
Parmenides said:
Having said that..... when government steps in, it only makes matters worse. 2 wrongs don't make a right. And when government steps in, they make 5 wrongs to make one thing right. We don't need Gov. babysitting us and our children. Just look out America's public school system and the results to see if Government does a good job. Are kids getting smarter? Are kids more disciplined? Is there less violence? Is it worse than before? Does it cost more than before? Do our senators and presidents send their kids to public schools?
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What's "before?" It's been quite a while since we haven't had public schools. Poor example, IMO.

Also, local school system != federal regulatory agency. Lumping those two together into "the government" is just stupid. They have virtually nothing in common.

My issue with this regulation is not that I think the government can't do it; it's that I don't think the government needs to do it.
 
HOCP4ME said:
What's "before?" It's been quite a while since we haven't had public schools. Poor example, IMO.

Also, local school system != federal regulatory agency. Lumping those two together into "the government" is just stupid. They have virtually nothing in common.

My issue with this regulation is not that I think the government can't do it; it's that I don't think the government needs to do it.
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I don’t think the Government should do it. Current methodology promotes communal rights, not private individual rights.
 
Not the best example if regulation was the only thing involved. Often times though, there is so much wheeling and dealing. If it were only as simple as pure regulation. Regulation per se is the beginning or 'beachhead' of government involvement. Programs like public schools are the final result. The gov just needs to be careful because it sets very strong precedents every time it gets involved.

As for the 'before' comment, I mean before/after as in time progresses. We throw more money and get less results. Maybe a linear or exponential graph.
 
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