by Bruce Tyson

Created on: July 29, 2010

A hacker exposing details of 100 million Facebook users has reignited privacy and security concerns that have for years dogged the online social networking site. Facebook minimized the incident saying that the public already has access to the information released in the incident. 

Security consultant Ron Bowes compiled file Facebook user data that users have left unhidden on Facebook and posted it on file sharing Web sites such as the Pirate Bay. Contrary to what it sounds, the data disclosed was not obtained by nefarious means: it was merely harvested from user accounts permitting its availability. 

Although the disclosure Bowes' file has garnered much attention, its significance remains unclear. Although some say that the incident highlights the cavalier attitude Facebook has toward its users, others suggest that self-promotion may have motivated the Bowes release. Still more sources familiar with Facebook have suggested that the file highlights a high degree of confusion about Facebook privacy settings among the users of the site.

 When questioned concerning the well publicized Facebook download, the popular social site pointed to the array of privacy and security controls it makes available to users so they can determine their own visibility and accessibility within Facebook. Critics counter the Facebook claim by saying that the site deliberately leaves user data exposed through its default settings. Many online security experts and Facebook users now call for Facebook to leave user data secure and private by default.

 In spite of well publicized security and privacy concerns, users continue to flock to Facebook to participate in the social networking phenomenon. Now with more than 500 million users, polls show that security continues to concern users, as demonstrated by a PC World poll, but not enough to prompt action. A recent “Quit Facebook Day” failed to demonstrate the existence of any user momentum against the site, questioning the sincerity of people who complain about the site, yet persist in its use.

Rather than pursue government solutions to Facebook security and privacy issues, many suggest that people should not use Facebook unless they are comfortable with the way it operates. Still, forces seeking to transform America through increasing government intervention into the lives of private corporations and citizens find the opportunity to create new laws and regulations one that is difficult to pass up.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg met with U.S. senators on Capitol Hill this week, underscoring the significance of Facebook security and privacy concerns and the interest legislators now have in taking on the issue. Facebook declined to publicly reveal the subject matter of the meeting and whether or not Zuckerberg had also met with government regulators.

Sources:

Emery, Daniel. "Details of 100m Facebook users collected and published." BBC. July 29, 2010. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-10796584 (accessed July 29, 2010).

Kang, Cecilia. "Mr. Zuckerberg goes to Washington; Facebook faces more privacy concerns." Washington Post. July 29, 2010. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/posttech/2010/07/mr _zuckerberg_goes_to_washingt.html (accessed July 29, 2010).

Siegler, M.G. "Remember When We Were All Supposed To Quit Facebook?" TechCrunch. July 14, 210. http://techcrunch.com/2010/07/14/quit-facebook-somed ay/ (accessed July 29, 2010).

Sullivan, Mark. "Quick Poll: How Important Is Facebook Privacy to You?" PC World. July 22, 2010. http://www.pcworld.com/article/201637/quick_poll_how _important_is_facebook_privacy_to_you.html?tk=hp_new (accessed July 29, 2010).

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