Hacker News Reader

Comment by Jerry2 | Hacker News Reader

I'm so glad I closed my FB account a while back. It has restored my sanity and I also don't have to worry about megalomaniacs such as Zuckerberg sifting through my data and selling it.

I think we should start a campaign and lobby our own government to pass a law similar to GDPR.

View on HN

> I also don't have to worry about megalomaniacs such as Zuckerberg sifting through my data and selling it.

No, they track everyone across the web via their embedded pixels and create "shadow profiles." I have never joined Facebook, but they still know me. I block their tracking by blocking their various websites. I'm not sure that's enough as I understand they still buy data. In their defense, I don't think they sell my data, except perhaps to the NSA.

I don't see how shadow profiles can be justified under GDPR and ePrivacy. If have identifiable information (just "some" ID will do, but also IP and various other fingerprints) then you need to allow for deletion/takeout/opt-out. Current strategy of implied consent ("if you're on this site you agree") is strictly not allowed.

It's not. Well, as long as the GDPR applies. So, if we assume there are a 5 billion profiles on fb (2 billion actual users, and everyone else that use the Web at least occasionally - I'm not sure if 5 billion total is a bit high) - compliance with GDPR would render some 100s million high value profiles illegal. Applying the GDPR to the remaining profiles would require an entirely new business model for Facebook.

You may have closed your account with Facebook. They haven't closed their account with you. They maintain information on people who don't have accounts

Reply on news.ycombinator.com