WSJ Calls Facebook's Referring URLs a Privacy Violation
readwriteweb.com
readwriteweb.com
As the post points out, this is done for pageviews or for karma mongering. What I find interesting is that my (and from others, too) posts that are critical of the media brouhaha over FB privacy issues quickly get downvoted on HN. Do you know how FB privacy controls stack up with GMail, LinkedIn, Plaxo or others, e.g. what URL does GMail forward to an advertiser when you click on a link in the sidebar? Can anyone enlighten us on these matters with hard facts, rather than creating another anecdotal post about how their even non-tech savvy friends are now so worried.
I'm not an expert on these privacy matters, so my approach is simple. I approach all companies that have my personal information with caution, including not only FB but Google. Unfortunately, in some cases there's nothing you can do, there's a service you need despite the potential security risks.
I wonder what your family members, who are now so worried about FB, would think if they knew that gas and electric utility companies routinely sell their personal information to junk mail spammers because they are "public records" (if you're in the US, go ahead and search your name on http://www.peoplelookup.com, it's a chilling experience)
I like Robert Scoble's take on this: assume from the start that anything you put on a computer (or write down in any form, for that matter), is public.
Obviously, this doesn't work all the time (there are, and should be, things like private emails). But it's a good assumption when dealing with most services out there.
As he puts it, most of the stuff you put on your Facebook page is just a copy-paste away from being spread by your friends, so how secure is it really?
And, as the updates show, they were indeed referring to something else.
Rushed article to cash in on hype.