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posted by Fnord666 on Friday January 26 2018, @07:31PM   Printer-friendly
from the does-it-verify-Russian-ID-cards dept.

Facebook buys Boston software company that authenticates IDs

Facebook Inc is buying a software firm that specializes in authenticating government-issued identification cards, the two companies said on Tuesday, a step that may help the social media company learn more about the people who buy ads on its network.

[...] Boston-based Confirm Inc, which is privately held, said on its website that the acquisition was the culmination of three years of work to build technology to keep people safe online. [...] Confirm says that its software allows for proof of identity for online transactions, allowing users to detect potentially fraudulent activity.

Also at TechCrunch.


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  • (Score: 5, Insightful) by Apparition on Friday January 26 2018, @07:46PM (2 children)

    by Apparition (6835) on Friday January 26 2018, @07:46PM (#628462) Journal

    I'll take "What could make Facebook even more creepy?" for $200, Alex.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 26 2018, @09:50PM (1 child)

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 26 2018, @09:50PM (#628557)

      The answer for $200... "It was created to track and profile 2+ billion people for the NSA".

      • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Friday January 26 2018, @10:10PM

        by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Friday January 26 2018, @10:10PM (#628581) Journal

        The answer for $200... "It was created to track and profile 2+ billion people for the RUSSIA".

        --
        People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
  • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Friday January 26 2018, @07:55PM (4 children)

    by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Friday January 26 2018, @07:55PM (#628470) Journal

    the two companies said on Tuesday, a step that may help the social media company learn more about the people who buy ads on its network.

    How about people who consume ads?

    I suppose that leaves out people who don't have Facebook accounts. Does it put me in a minority to not have one?

    It wouldn't be creepy at all if Facebook started giving free ID cards and readers to account holders. (rather than ad purchasers) Nope. Not one bit creepier. It should not make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

    --
    People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 26 2018, @08:01PM (3 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 26 2018, @08:01PM (#628474)

      yeah so hey how do we opt out

      • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 26 2018, @08:07PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 26 2018, @08:07PM (#628476)

        Even more important, how long will it be before we are required to participate? Creepy, indeed.

      • (Score: 2) by Gaaark on Friday January 26 2018, @10:02PM

        by Gaaark (41) on Friday January 26 2018, @10:02PM (#628570) Journal

        Close (or, like in Canada delete) your account and leave facebook.

        --
        --- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
      • (Score: 0, Troll) by Ethanol-fueled on Friday January 26 2018, @10:09PM

        by Ethanol-fueled (2792) on Friday January 26 2018, @10:09PM (#628579) Homepage

        Don't use Jewbook and use browser extensions/plugins that block Jewbook's tracking bullshit.

        If you lack the willpower to quit Jewbook, then you have only yourself to blame.

  • (Score: 1, Redundant) by mrpg on Friday January 26 2018, @08:29PM (1 child)

    by mrpg (5708) Subscriber Badge <reversethis-{gro ... yos} {ta} {gprm}> on Friday January 26 2018, @08:29PM (#628495) Homepage

    Fifth post!!

    • (Score: 3, Funny) by shortscreen on Friday January 26 2018, @10:03PM

      by shortscreen (2252) on Friday January 26 2018, @10:03PM (#628572) Journal

      Folks, you're submitting too many legitimate stories. The editors have no work to do and are getting bored.

  • (Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 26 2018, @08:40PM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 26 2018, @08:40PM (#628506)

    Good old biometrics, nothing like a password you can’t change and you broadcast everywhere you go to keep your accounts secure.

    • (Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 26 2018, @11:39PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 26 2018, @11:39PM (#628625)

      Vito will be by in the morning to rearrange your face. Capisce?

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 27 2018, @07:00PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 27 2018, @07:00PM (#629040)

      I was interpreting the acquisition as a way of more effectively identify people in content. For example in the pictures and video clips so that those bastards that don't already have accounts will be forced to in order to remove the tagging information from those videos.

      The log in biometrics is likely more about cracking down on fake accounts so that they can more effectively catch people evading the ban on fake names for the "safety" of the other users.

  • (Score: 5, Interesting) by VLM on Friday January 26 2018, @09:09PM (1 child)

    by VLM (445) Subscriber Badge on Friday January 26 2018, @09:09PM (#628531)

    says that its software allows for proof of identity for online transactions, allowing users to detect potentially fraudulent activity.

    Careful reading finds this gem.

    AFAIK FB is not in the "replace brick and mortar retail" biz, nor in the "online election voting" biz. I can't use it as a notary public or contract signing for business use.

    So exactly what class of transactions can be less fraudulent via removing privacy, once commerce and voting and business are excluded? Seriously, whats left? "people who buy ads on its network" sounds pretty bogus for all that technology, so there's gotta be a real answer somewhere. I'm just saying this story is beyond the "conspiracy theory" region and is entering the "WTF" region.

  • (Score: 4, Interesting) by crafoo on Saturday January 27 2018, @12:27AM (1 child)

    by crafoo (6639) on Saturday January 27 2018, @12:27AM (#628652)

    bullying people into using real names for their online accounts wasn't enough
    Requiring and verifying phone numbers associated with your account wasn't enough
    No, we want to associate your every online action with you actual eyeball. or fingerprint. or voice print. preferably all of the above.

    This isn't about making logins and identification easy for the user. This is all about improving the NSA's data fidelity and debasing citizens to livestock status.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 27 2018, @03:55PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 27 2018, @03:55PM (#628906)

      yes so why do so many people HERE keep using it? fear of their mom crying they won't pick up the phone to call her?

      people all over need to grow up and at least say hello rather than let some giant system send the reminder automatically, be it email, fb, or pretending that you cared.

      i like connecting and talking with people as much as anyone could and dont do it as much as i probably should

      FB took a fun process and ruined it by what they did to social conventions and expectations.

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