Facebook Apps Transmitting, Selling Personally Identifying Information

Wall Street Journal:

Many of the most popular applications, or "apps," on the social-networking site Facebook Inc. have been transmitting identifying information--in effect, providing access to people's names and, in some cases, their friends' names--to dozens of advertising and Internet tracking companies, a Wall Street Journal investigation has found.

The issue affects tens of millions of Facebook app users, including people who set their profiles to Facebook's strictest privacy settings. The practice breaks Facebook's rules, and renews questions about its ability to keep identifiable information about its users' activities secure.

The problem has ties to the growing field of companies that build detailed databases on people in order to track them online--a practice the Journal has been examining in its What They Know series. It's unclear how long the breach was in place. On Sunday, a Facebook spokesman said it is taking steps to "dramatically limit" the exposure of users' personal information.

Read the whole story: Wall Street Journal

Comments

[ThePeacemakers]

06:13 PM on 10/19/2010

Facebook users....time to ask for YOUR cut of the pie for providing the content.

Don't be used.

[sueinmn]

10:16 PM on 10/18/2010

Thought they took steps a couple of months ago to secure the site. Seems this kid is enjoying his riches off your/our info. I cant go along with that and really need to find a way to remove myself from there. I dont use it, why have it!

[sueinmn]

10:14 PM on 10/18/2010

How do you cancel your facebook account and leave no trail? Anyone?

[worker beenumbed]

08:44 PM on 10/18/2010

Facebook asks for my password to my hotmail address.Facebook said it wold be discarded.It was a red flag.It is obsessed with invading the personal space and is socially inept

[Skyhawk]

04:59 PM on 10/18/2010

Shocked! I'm shocked I tell you, that profile selling is going on.

[givesflack]

04:17 PM on 10/18/2010

How did you find me? We found you on facebook.

[Matt12]

03:41 PM on 10/18/2010

v

[loki]

03:30 PM on 10/18/2010

In the past I would have been in awh at the stupidity of the people who are on facebook. First of all, why would you even want to expose your personal information, the only thing you have left in this corrupt world, out there for everyone to steal and use. But over the years I have come to realize that its just a fact that the majority of the American public, and elsewhere in the world, are really just pretty dense when it comes to common sense subjects, and often brush things like this off with a No Big Deal and other dumb clichés. With all the things that have come out about Face book over the last couple years I can see it as the only explanation. People just must be stupid. I cant see any other reason why anyone would belong to my space, face book, or any other online open and prove not save or to be run by honest people social network. Its just insane.
But, then again, people seem to be fine with re-electing republicans into power again after what they just witnessed them do over 8 years of Bush, so I guess nothing can be a surprise in this day and age. And I always thought we were suppose to Evolve, not Devolve.

[Eric Sarnoski]

02:51 PM on 10/18/2010

Can't blame facebook for a lack of common sense. If people are that concerned about privacy don't put all the unnessesary information into your profile. I see people put their age, highschool, college, address, telephone numbers, etc etc etc , then turn around and complain that there is no privacy. Well it remains private if you don't post it....duh !!!

The red flags with the apps have always been there but people didn't get it or seemed to ignore the consequences when the apps would always ask to access your profile information and read your e-mail list. via your e-mail account. and if you used outlook it would read data off your PC.

[LightShadow62]

01:46 PM on 10/18/2010

Zuckerburg has become rich selling the information that people are stupid enough to post on Facebook.

[sensimilla]

11:09 AM on 10/18/2010

Duh? The apps tell you that when you join them!

[Organic-Guy]

09:58 AM on 10/18/2010

I never play the games or sign up for the apps and block all requests simply because I don't have the time. I always wonder where people find the time for all that drivel.

[AyeChart]

09:09 AM on 10/18/2010

1) Don't post much background info on these various sites.
2) Cancel your membership.
3) Only sign on when absolutely necessary.
4) Your ego doesn't really need Facebook, does it?

[monthofmay]

08:40 AM on 10/18/2010

The next thing FB will be used for is helping the IRS.

[anitaj]

01:49 PM on 10/18/2010

It is already being used by law enforcement.

[headly66]

08:05 AM on 10/18/2010

Really don't understand why anyone would want their life so public and available to all.

[Trickery]

08:39 AM on 10/18/2010

Well, everyone else is doing it :/

[anitaj]

01:49 PM on 10/18/2010

Hey, you're among friends. You can quit any time you want.