Facebook Responds To Assange Claim It Is A 'Spying Machine'

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange recently said in an interview that Facebook is "the most appalling spying machine that has ever been invented." Alleging that the social network is vulnerable to "pressure" from U.S. Intelligence, Assange said that the government could potentially exploit user data stored on the network.

Facebook offered a rebuttal on Tuesday.

"We don't respond to pressure, we respond to compulsory legal process," a Facebook spokesperson told Forbes. "There has never been a time we have been pressured to turn over data -- we fight every time we believe the legal process is insufficient."

A recent document, purportedly leaked from Facebook, states that most of your personal data and networking activities are subject to subpoena by police. In addition, it's well-known that authorities use Facebook at times to obtain information about suspects.

"The legal standards for compelling a company to turn over data are determined by the laws of the country, and we respect that standard," the Facebook rep told Forbes on Tuesday.

Watch Julian Assange's full interview here.

Comments

[LMNico]

07:23 PM on 06/30/2011

People complain about these allegations, but the truth is that whether or not the government is spying ppl are the ones putting their business out there. Unless you got something to hide why you worried about it from a "Government keeping tabs" perspective!?! What I am PISSED about is that FACEBOOK knowingly allows SEX OFFENDERS to gather pages on there and keep prospecting for eachother. FACEBOOK has been requested to take these pages down but they haven't thus far. Hopefully they will soon.

[Justin Woo]

11:12 AM on 06/17/2011

Notice FB doesn't address Julian's assertion that Intelligence bureaus have their own interfaces to see everyone's FB data. That means it's true.

[Foday]

07:51 AM on 06/21/2011

Exactly!! And, to think a smart young bloke like him giving a laughable response to Julian's assertion. I will take Julian's assertion over FB response. They have been releasing private and much more information on people and possibility with out permission of those people. How sad. You wonder why over 100,000 in Russia left FB and more than 400,000 in UK left, too. That says something

[LMNico]

07:17 PM on 06/30/2011

Is this true??? Where was that said?

[Alain Hernandez]

10:49 PM on 05/29/2011

wow this is a wonferful site and great content, are we allow to share information by writting?

[Observer111]

09:36 PM on 05/16/2011

"Spying machine" is CIA and the rest of US intel community...what they don't like little competition from Internet boys and girls??

[Steve-o-k]

11:12 PM on 05/15/2011

Facebook is lame. Growing more so by the day. Wait for the way over due devaluation of this company. Talk about a bubble that needs bursting. Mix in the complete lack of privacy.. No thanks.

[Foday]

07:52 AM on 06/21/2011

People are already leaving in dove and let's just wait for a few years when it will go south!

[meanderinn]

11:25 PM on 05/05/2011

unfortunately ..Assange is right ..and facebook is just a money maker and they dnt give a dem ..or perhaps they just keep all the info they get ..and shall resale them later ..nothing new ..this is America and our country .. funny ..yes it is ..

[purenergy]

06:08 AM on 05/05/2011

I guess I am just not that interesting of a person, because why anyone other than family and friends would want access to my FB account is beyond me, but then, I do not post things on the internet I wouldn't want the world to know or see. As an American, I am used to being "sold" to, it is the American way after all...consume, buy, obey. It doesn't mean you have to listen and it doesn't mean you have to buy. FB has many privacy settings that keep unsolicited traffic to a minimum, otherwise BE SMART, THINK and US IT WISELY.

[El Chingaso]

04:49 AM on 05/05/2011

FB is the internet's Pandora's box. Use it at your own peril.

[JavaSavant]

09:45 PM on 05/04/2011

Their reply is totally beside the point. Before Facebook, no one had this kind of information available to a subpoena in the first place. That is Assange's point. People were conned into believing their information would only be available to their friends, and that is just not the case.

[w27609]

09:17 PM on 05/04/2011

If you want privacy, live like Osama did. Oh, wait we found him too. Damm! scratch that...

[sbrannon]

04:53 PM on 05/04/2011

What? I just saw a program in Italy about how Facebook and Google, has programs to gather marketing information and sells that information to those who want the information. It was a special as to how can these companies do what they do for free. When you sign and agree as a new user, you agree that they can use your information. i.e. 50 women who work at blaugh are single, 30 are married, and 25 of those like to go to Starbucks.

[Tags]

01:25 PM on 05/04/2011

In other words, "we don't pull our pants down until they say 'please.' "

[PrairieGayCompanion]

09:17 AM on 05/04/2011

Although I had no personal information posted and rarely used Facebook, I deleted my account some time ago because, frankly, the exhibitionists who were posting were providing more information than I could ever want to know about.

[jo smith456]

09:09 AM on 05/04/2011

REALLY?
Facebook is crappy on this. If the US (e.g. FBI, local police, intelligence units, etc.) says to Facebook (e.g. Mark Zuckerberg) for sake of "NATIONAL SECURITY" or war-on-terror or you are ANTI-AMERICAN or pro-terrorist if you DON'T cooperate, then, it's a given that Facebook will give in. Many, many Americans, in my guess, would give in to the above demands, without or little regard for legal or constitutional requirements.

The US has changed in the 15 years on its fundamental societal values. Now, that's a fact. Period.

[meanderinn]

11:33 PM on 05/05/2011

and who is going to pay the bills our kids ...they dnt know yet and dreams about america the land of opportunities and freedom .. shall be interesting when they know as we know ..values are now in the hands of the lobbiest..... money talk and the middle class shall disapear .. i love my dog he never change .. good friend ..

[mspink]

07:55 AM on 05/04/2011

You have zero privacy anywhere. Every move is recorded, your phone calls tapped, cell phones are hardly secure, your internet provider has info on you and every time you use your debit and credit cards, software registration, library books, dvd rentals, etc.: information is collected. Been that way for a while. Now, we're getting insecure over Facebook? You want real privacy? Move to an island. Wait! There are satellites that can see you too. Welcome to the 21st Century bi tc hes.

[jo smith456]

09:10 AM on 05/04/2011

Agree.

[meanderinn]

11:28 PM on 05/05/2011

yes ..cant wait ..

[donaldinks]

10:02 AM on 05/04/2011

Spot on.