Facebook Has Patented Generating Friend Suggestions Based on Real Life Contact

cageymaru

cageymaru

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Facebook has been awarded a patent that would allow it to track real life encounters between its users. It will use the Bluetooth connectivity and other hardware on phones to track, log and find other users in the same vicinity. It will be able to read gyro data to determine that the users were moving in the same pattern to each other, such as in dancing, walking, traveling in a car, running, stationary, etc. The system will use signal strength to determine exactly how close the tracked users are in proximity to each other. It will use datasets from those interactions to suggest Facebook friends.

"In one example, the first user and the second user meet at a gathering. The first user and the second user become acquainted and decide to connect with each other via a social networking service". "During their meeting, the first user and the second user forgot to obtain each other's full names and contact information. Furthermore, the first user and second user do not have any mutual connections that are readily recognizable or apparent to each other. Thus, the opportunity for the first and second users to connect can be lost".
 
facebook_Creepy_BLE_patentLG.jpg
 
I think this will create a new subculture of crimes. First we had swatting. Next will will have Bluetooth crime sprees. What if law enforcement subpoenaed your Bluetooth records from Facebook to see if you were near the victim of a crime because you said that you didn't remember seeing them? Could you be convicted for being in the wrong place at wrong time? What if their Apple watch said that they died 5 minutes after your interaction?

Before you say I'm paranoid, go read what they can track in the patent.
 
I don't have a Facebook account and I've got Bluetooth disabled on my phone so I'm not too worried about being tracked.
 
I think am sure they're doing it already. The friends suggestion I sometimes get are more than suspicions.
 
Well, this will make stalking a tad more interesting.

I can also imagine you'll be matched with everyone at the gym.
 
scojer said:
They still spy on you.
Just via cookies.
Click to expand...

Did you guys watch this from the front page a couple of days ago?

They spy on you even if you've never had a Facebook account, acquiring data from others, or via data they've collected from your friends who are on facebook.

At this point there is nothing even a conscientious person who actively wants to avoid this shit can do. You can't opt out no matter what.

This is why we need draconian privacy regulations. I don't care if it kills the industry.
 
Use that app called Tinfoil Hat for Facebook.

It's basically a browser based usage of Facebook, so without all the app bloatware that the normal app has. Notice, the Facebook app is 200+ MB for a reason. (Hint: It's not the UI making up all that MB)


Or you know... just uninstall and delete your account. Whichever you prefer. Personally I still like to live vicariously through it and occasionally open it up to laugh at other people.
 
Cool. So some dude hops on the treadmill next to my super hot wife (who works out in really tight yoga pants) and next thing he knows, he's looking at all her pics on Facebook. I told that woman to make her bikini pics visible only to ME.
 
Boscoh said:
Cool. So some dude hops on the treadmill next to my super hot wife (who works out in really tight yoga pants) and next thing he knows, he's looking at all her pics on Facebook. I told that woman to make her bikini pics visible only to ME.
Click to expand...
Dude, they need to upgrade the wifi up in that piece. My ass friend was running for like 18 minutes while it all loaded.
 
That is just some crazy shit.
So Facebook puts it out there that the "2 users" have a burning desire to know each other simply by their proximity.

Ever meet anyone interesting at a random meeting?

Why don't they just come out and say it......" we want to spy on everyone, all the time"

I do not and never will have a Facebook anything...........
 
the_servicer said:
The more Facebook knows about all of us, the more Facebook can intelligently serve humankind. Pervasive monitoring really does not need to concern anyone.
Click to expand...

Indeed. This is nothing more than upgrading the swarm with new unconscious subroutines. It may not be that great for the individual but it's good for the swarm
 
magoo said:
That is just some crazy shit.
So Facebook puts it out there that the "2 users" have a burning desire to know each other simply by their proximity.

Ever meet anyone interesting at a random meeting?

Why don't they just come out and say it......" we want to spy on everyone, all the time"

I do not and never will have a Facebook anything...........
Click to expand...

And yet, Facebook still has you. And knows your a cranky myopic cartoon character in need of special friends from a [H] place in Pleasantville.

:LOL:
 
I have already had FB "Suggest" friends for me that it has no business knowing. Professional contacts and other people I know in real life, but make a POINT of keeping off of my friends list! I am THIS close to deleting my account....
 
jnemesh said:
I have already had FB "Suggest" friends for me that it has no business knowing. Professional contacts and other people I know in real life, but make a POINT of keeping off of my friends list! I am THIS close to deleting my account....
Click to expand...
I know for absolute damn sure that LinkedIn screened my email list. It made otherwise impossible recommendations for contact. Like a person I rented a room from 3 years ago kind of thing.
 
pcgeekesq said:
Sure, you THINK you have Bluetooth disabled. You may think you have your WiFi and camera disabled, too.
But how can you know?

Tinfoil -- it's not just for hats anymore.
Click to expand...

I know my 'selfie' camera is effectively disabled because there's black tape over it! The other camera works normally.
 
dgz said:
Indeed. This is nothing more than upgrading the swarm with new unconscious subroutines. It may not be that great for the individual but it's good for the swarm
Click to expand...

I'd say it's main purpose is targeted advertising.

If PersonA doesn't share that much data nor do they "check-in" at locations, but PersonB does and they're in proximity to PersonA (Bluetooth), it's safe to assume that PersonA is at the location of PersonB. Queue personA for ad campaign of location (if applicable) or use generic campaign for location type (gym --> health ads). Thus, they've cleverly figured out a way around a lot of privacy opt-outs.


This is less about connecting people and more about getting higher ad dollars. Google does similar things with location data because they want to know where you go. That data can be used to more appropriately target you with ads you're more likely to click. That click is their bread and butter. Google's advantage is that they have it baked into the popular OS of people, so location data is easily figured out and opting out is tricky. Facebook has app level access to data, so it's easier for the user to block their access to things.

The next piece of the puzzle? Giving the user an incentive to give permission to Bluetooth. Either they trick (request, hope the user doesn't notice) or they build in a feature that uses Bluetooth and just happens to also give them this data.
 
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I keep hoping for the tipping point when people find their balls, remember privacy is of the utmost importance, and go after this company and the myriad like it with torches and pitchforks.

Still waiting.
 
Apparently Google does something similar & according to these guys, turning off Bluetooth doesn't actually work. You have to also disable location or chase down a beacon option deep within the location settings.

"A spokesperson for Google confirmed that turning off Location History would stop a phone’s reporting of nearby Bluetooth beacons."

bluetooth_scanning_grid_andriod_004.png


https://qz.com/1169760/phone-data/amp/
 
They've already been doing this indirectly - comparing location and connection data between users gets pretty close. This will just help them narrow down who is in the room with you, rather than the entire building.
 
Posting on a web page doth not a real life friend make.

But thanks anyway...
 
Imagine this with a subway full of people during rush hour.....







*thumb typing like crazy disabling everything on my Android*
 
How is this patent worthy? Apps have been doing much the same thing using ultrasonic pings and recording which personalized tracking devices respond. Not a new thing.

[QUOTE="Spidey329, post: 1043920678, member: 75279". . . . .
The next piece of the puzzle? Giving the user an incentive to give permission to Bluetooth. Either they trick (request, hope the user doesn't notice) or they build in a feature that uses Bluetooth and just happens to also give them this data.[/QUOTE]

You mean like removing the audio jack so you have to enable BT to listen to your tunes? You didn't really think it was all about Thinner did you?
 
Funny how they claimed not to get this type of data...and then patented exactly how to get it.
 
Gonna find out someone from NAMBLA was in the stall next to mine at the airport bathroom. "Friends?"
 
pcgeekesq said:
Sure, you THINK you have Bluetooth disabled. You may think you have your WiFi and camera disabled, too.
But how can you know?

Tinfoil -- it's not just for hats anymore.
Click to expand...
I would argue that its no longer a Tinfoil hat........its straight up reality. (on those terms i still agree with you 100%)
 
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