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Facebook Sued for Scanning Private User Messages

posted by cmn32480 on Tuesday May 24 2016, @10:29AM   Printer-friendly
from the no-big-shock dept.

MrPlow writes:

Submitted via IRC for TheMightyBuzzard

A California man is suing Facebook for allegedly scanning the content of private messages sent between users of the site.

The suit alleges that Facebook scans the messages in search of hyperlinks sent between users. "If there is a link to a web page contained in that message, Facebook treats it as a 'like' of the page, and increases the page's 'like,' counter by one," the suit contends. The site tracks when users "like" pages in order to compile individual profiles that allow third parties to send targeted advertisements.

Source: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/facebook-sued-for-scanning-private-user-messages/article/2591806

Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: 4, Insightful) by bob_super on Tuesday May 24 2016, @05:22PM

    by bob_super (1357) on Tuesday May 24 2016, @05:22PM (#350405)

    > "If there is a link to a web page contained in that message, Facebook treats it as a 'like' of the page, and increases the page's 'like,' counter by one,"

    Great, so complete morons, whose pages/posts get forwarded by people pointing out the absolute insanity of the drivel therein, will be feel supported in their insipid ramblings...
    I guess that's normal in FB/Twitter, and IRL these days, where being seen is more important than knowing why.

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  • (Score: 2) by Hyperturtle on Tuesday May 24 2016, @10:09PM

    by Hyperturtle (2824) on Tuesday May 24 2016, @10:09PM (#350505)

    This also opts you into some sort of contract in a way, where because you shared something hilariously bad and totally against your preferences, you wanted to show it off in disgust to others to demonstrate what is a bad example of something... you are automatically flagged as liking it and your preferences shipped off to not the highest bidder, but to all bidders.

    Even if one uses the site to keep the peace within the family, participation just makes it worse for yourself in the long run. Receiving crap and sharing it as a warning merely precludes the arrival of more of the same, because you expressed a preference for it.

    If I was an advertiser, I'd be the one suing over that, since I'd be the one paying for lists of people that don't even want what I am selling while being told that they actively "liked" it.

  • (Score: 1) by boris on Wednesday May 25 2016, @02:21PM

    by boris (1706) on Wednesday May 25 2016, @02:21PM (#350803)

    Combine this with the fact that FB tells my friends pages I 'liked'. I've accepted that FB is harvesting data about me so I'm very selective with what I tell FB I actually like (usually a charity, or some movie or TV show). If the very act of forwarding drivel via PM tells my friends I like something I don't actually like I will no longer use this private messaging for this.. I don't like FB inferring things about me.