Facing Criticism, Facebook May Alter Policy Of Sharing Users' Info

Business Week:

In the wake of mounting criticism, Facebook executives are discussing changes to a controversial advertising tool that publicizes users' Web activities outside of the popular social network. Alterations to the recently introduced Beacon system could be announced as early as Nov. 29, BusinessWeek.com has learned.

Executives of the three-year-old company were in deep talks over proposed changes late into the afternoon on Nov. 28, according to a person familiar with the matter. At issue is the Beacon program, which alerts members' Facebook "friends" to purchases and other activities on third-party Web sites. A spokesperson for the company declined to discuss changes, reiterating an earlier statement: "Facebook is listening to feedback from its users and committed to evolving Beacon."

Read the whole story: Business Week

Comments

[NoPCZone]

11:34 AM on 11/29/2007

Question to the advertisin­g community:

How much is enough? Obviously, everything is fair game and no intrusion in the name of commerce is too much.

I think I'm speaking for many when I say that ads that are electronic­ally inserted on the grass at football games make me NOT want to use the sponsor, that the ever more intrusive 'supers' that TV networks place over show content piss me off and that the Rose Bowl should not be called the "Rose Bowl Presented by AT&T" or whatever.

Jesus. There should be some things immune to advertisin­g and some things more important than the endless, relentless pursuit of money. Like privacy, for example.

[NotBob]

05:30 AM on 11/29/2007

Hmmm. Sounds like spying.