Facebook Deletes Data?
3. December 2007 – 23:31 byDid I wrong Facebook? Maybe. Facebook has replied to the accusation it was storing user data even if users weren’t logged in to it while being on a Beacon affiliated site. It says that data was deleted from its servers. However should I trust Facebook (again)?
Why has Travelocity not started using Beacon yet? Why has Overstock suspended it? Beacon has become a PR disaster for Facebook. It should have made its policy on storing (and deleting) data clear earlier. Also that there is still no general opt-in rather than opt-out of Beacon is still questionable. To put it bluntly, I am not convinced anymore that the company is able to manage privacy concerns properly. Not now, not in the future.
Why can’t users delete their accounts; they can only be deactivated. Facebook even explains that users can log in later with their username and password to reactivate accounts. This means that all data is still on its servers: mini feed, contacts, profile data, and what have you. I think that’s really personal data which shouldn’t be on a company’s server anymore when users decide to leave. What is happening with this data in the meantime?
[via Henry Blodget]
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