While the ECHELON project of the Clinton Administration allows the government to track everything you do electronically, Facebook policies and programming do not allow anyone who wants to to stalk you. It is against their policy for applications to actually support this, and it is against their software to allow the kinds of embedded activity that would facilitate it. In other words, just because you want to watch my Facebook activity doesn't mean you can. If you work at Facebook or the Department of Justice, then maybe, but only with probable cause.
The one exception is the Facebook Stalker Application allowed by Facebook. It's similar to the type of activity under which Top Friends and similar things work where they display a ranking or a picture with your top friends. That is based on the relative number of page views/actions and includes the most recent 200 activities in the past month. So, they can tell where you rank but not the absolute number of views. They cannot tell that you account for 100 of the last 200 hits and that the #2 visitor accounts for only 20. Plus, it doesn't work on people who are not actually your friends.
All of the applications that allow you to stalk are spam. It joins the ranks of allegations that you have to pay for Facebook or that applications offer something when the applications themselves make no mention of that. It is simply impossible for a group creator to force Facebook or any of the applications it supports to do something. From time to time, someone finds a loophole, but Facebook pays people to scan for those in order to keep you safe. After all, the designers and employees use it too, and if your information is vulnerable so is theirs.
The only exception to this rule is if you can embed a javascript into your profile that reports to you the information that Facebook cookies generates. This is illegal because it's theft of intellectual property. Facebook has prevented this every time someone has tried it. They reserve the right to delete applications that violate this and profiles that continually test the limits. Unless you have a warrant, that information belongs to Facebook and Facebook alone, and if you take it out of their computer, you are subject to criminal action.
Most of the groups on facebook are scams aimed at stealing your identity or parts of it. Unless you know the person who created it or what it's for (like a reunion, wedding, party, etc.), use discretion. Face time is always better than Facebook time.
If you can get away without having a Facebook, that's the best thing you can do. It's only real values are: 1. a way to contact and spy on old friends you actually know without having to write them and ask what's up or 2. if you're part of a political/economic/religious movement and use it to communicate with lots of like-minded people. Remember that it is sold as a "networking" site. If you want to date, try eHarmony.com or your local college. If you doubt me, consider the premise of the KIN project which asks, how many of your friends are actually your friends?
In the end, Facebook prohibits and works to prevent any kind of stalking. What you voluntarily share is free game, but they will not allow any third party software to take any information you dont' volunteer. Check your masking and permissions. All they need to steal your identity or violate your peace is your birthday, your real name, and the city where you live. If you have other stuff up however, they will use that too.
Don't become or stay friends with people you don't actually know. It's just not worth it.
The one exception is the Facebook Stalker Application allowed by Facebook. It's similar to the type of activity under which Top Friends and similar things work where they display a ranking or a picture with your top friends. That is based on the relative number of page views/actions and includes the most recent 200 activities in the past month. So, they can tell where you rank but not the absolute number of views. They cannot tell that you account for 100 of the last 200 hits and that the #2 visitor accounts for only 20. Plus, it doesn't work on people who are not actually your friends.
All of the applications that allow you to stalk are spam. It joins the ranks of allegations that you have to pay for Facebook or that applications offer something when the applications themselves make no mention of that. It is simply impossible for a group creator to force Facebook or any of the applications it supports to do something. From time to time, someone finds a loophole, but Facebook pays people to scan for those in order to keep you safe. After all, the designers and employees use it too, and if your information is vulnerable so is theirs.
The only exception to this rule is if you can embed a javascript into your profile that reports to you the information that Facebook cookies generates. This is illegal because it's theft of intellectual property. Facebook has prevented this every time someone has tried it. They reserve the right to delete applications that violate this and profiles that continually test the limits. Unless you have a warrant, that information belongs to Facebook and Facebook alone, and if you take it out of their computer, you are subject to criminal action.
Most of the groups on facebook are scams aimed at stealing your identity or parts of it. Unless you know the person who created it or what it's for (like a reunion, wedding, party, etc.), use discretion. Face time is always better than Facebook time.
If you can get away without having a Facebook, that's the best thing you can do. It's only real values are: 1. a way to contact and spy on old friends you actually know without having to write them and ask what's up or 2. if you're part of a political/economic/religious movement and use it to communicate with lots of like-minded people. Remember that it is sold as a "networking" site. If you want to date, try eHarmony.com or your local college. If you doubt me, consider the premise of the KIN project which asks, how many of your friends are actually your friends?
In the end, Facebook prohibits and works to prevent any kind of stalking. What you voluntarily share is free game, but they will not allow any third party software to take any information you dont' volunteer. Check your masking and permissions. All they need to steal your identity or violate your peace is your birthday, your real name, and the city where you live. If you have other stuff up however, they will use that too.
Don't become or stay friends with people you don't actually know. It's just not worth it.
No comments:
Post a Comment