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posted by cmn32480 on Thursday February 15 2018, @02:48AM   Printer-friendly
from the what-could-possibly-go-wrong? dept.

We've got great news this week for nation-state employees tasked with using social media to spark a class war in previously stable democracies! Facebook is patenting technology to decide if its users are upper, middle or working class -- without even using the usual marker for social class: an individual's income (the patent considers this a benefit).

Facebook's patent plan for "Socioeconomic Group Classification Based on User Features" uses different data sources and qualifiers to determine whether a user is "working class," "middle class," or "upper class." It uses things like a user's home ownership status, education, number of gadgets owned, and how much they use the internet, among other factors. If you have one gadget and don't use the internet much, in Facebook's eyes you're probably a poor person.

Facebook's application says the algorithm is intended for use by "third parties to increase awareness about products or services to online system users." Examples given include corporations and charities.

Engadget


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  • (Score: 2) by driverless on Thursday February 15 2018, @05:41AM (3 children)

    by driverless (4770) on Thursday February 15 2018, @05:41AM (#638092)

    That depends on what country you're in. You can get into the ruling classes with no formal education whatsoever, and even become President of the country. You don't even need to be able to count [youtube.com] or pronounce basic words [youtube.com].

    Starting Score:    1  point
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  

    Total Score:   2  
  • (Score: 2) by riT-k0MA on Thursday February 15 2018, @05:48AM (2 children)

    by riT-k0MA (88) on Thursday February 15 2018, @05:48AM (#638095)

    He just resigned [businesstech.co.za]

    • (Score: 2) by driverless on Thursday February 15 2018, @06:22AM

      by driverless (4770) on Thursday February 15 2018, @06:22AM (#638106)

      It's the beninggging.. the.. the bini... the begingining.. yah.. the.. ahh.. the... listen properly... the... beninging yeah.. the the beginingih.... eeee... the bengginingi.. the beninggibeningi.. the start of the end.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 15 2018, @06:37AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 15 2018, @06:37AM (#638111)

      https://www.voanews.com/a/zuma-pushed-out-of-office/4251210.html [voanews.com]

      You mean, kicked out?? Like Mugabe resigned too.