Recently, Boycott Watch wrote an
article
about how Facebook applications and games can gather your private information,
including email address, name, relationship, relationship status, that persons
name, friends names and more. We also reported how these apps can also gather,
save, use and even sell information from and about minors, including possible
GLBT relationships, and how the release of such information has resulted in a
suicide. Today, Boycott Watch has compiled an example of the specific private
information Facebook is allowing applications to gather which has nothing to do
with the actual applications, and how that information can result in identity
theft.
There is simply no reason games need to know who the player
is dating, a player's relatives, photos and movies. The popular Farm Town game
which is geared toward children, for example, required access to the following,
as quoted on the Facebook access page:
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Access my basic information |
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Includes name, profile picture, gender, networks, user ID, list of
friends, and any other information I've made public. |
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Required |
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Access my profile information |
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Likes, Music, TV, Movies, Books, Quotes, About Me, Activities, Interests,
Groups, Events, Notes, Birthday, Hometown, Current City, Website, Religious and
Political Views, Education History, Work History and Facebook Status |
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Required |
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Access my family & relationships |
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Significant Other and Relationship Details and Family Members and
Relationship Status |
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Required |
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Access my photos |
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Required |
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Access my videos |
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Required |
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Access information people share with me |
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Birthdays, Religious and Political Views, Family Members and Relationship
Statuses, Significant Others and Relationship Details, Hometowns, Current
Cities, Likes, Music, TV, Movies, Books, Quotes, Activities, Interests,
Education History, Work History, Online Presence, Websites, Groups, Events,
Notes, Photos, Videos, 'About Me' Details and Facebook Statuses |
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Required |
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Access my contact information |
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Online Presence |
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Fred Taub, President of Boycott Watch, a consumer watchdog
group, said "There is no reason games need this information, whatsoever.
There is no need for games to see family photos, and especially videos. Can
anyone explain why a game needs access to your family photos and videos? You
can't because it is an unreasonable demand. If someone steals a credit card
number, they can use such a database to add in birthdays, family member
information, and more."
Fred Taub continued: "Why, for example, would a game
need to know the names of your children and see photos of them? That is what
the games demand as part of the permission demands. If someone buys the
database and they read a post about your kids walking home from school, they
can use that for targeted crimes. What I want to know is why is Facebook
allowing game application developers, and anyone else for that matter, to make
an app which demands access to private information? Facebook supposedly fixed
security issues but left this wide open."
"I am most concerned about one particular category which
violates the privacy of third parties, even if they have the highest security
settings, allowing only friends to see their personal information" Fred
Taub, President of Boycott Watch said emphatically. "The 'Access
information people share with me' permission gathers significant information
from people who have nothing to do with the apps whatsoever. This feature
specifically gathers information about your friends who do not want their
information going public whatsoever, and puts it into a public database. Not
only is your private information insecure on Facebook, but it makes everyone's
information available to the public - it guarantees them a complete work around
of all Facebook privacy policies. This is scary!"
There is simply no reason Facebook applications, especially
games, need your personal information. Boycott Watch also believes this is a
direct violation of the privacy policies Facebook has recently put in place. As
Fred Taub stated, information about friends and family can easily be obtained
in Facebook apps and for used to blackmail, and even to gather intelligence
information for potential terrorist and criminal attacks. There is simply no
end to what this private information can be used for. Boycott Watch has
attempted to contact Facebook about this, but has received no replies. Boycott
Watch advises people to protect their personal information before becoming a
potential victim of cyber theft, identity theft, and even terrorism. Boycott
Watch demands Facebook take immediate action to correct the privacy problems of
Facebook applications.
We will post updates as available. |
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