I’ve been watching the news about Facebook and privacy. I think the whole situation is a beautiful example of what’s wrong.
To start, let me address the issue with Cambridge Analytica using data for Trump’s campaign. This needs to be investigated, and assuming it’s true then the guilty need to be punished. This is a very serious issue and separate from most of the questions being thrown at Mark.
I’ll be honest, I feel like I’m watching schoolyard bullies trying to intimidate Mark into handing over his lunch money.
Mark is being asked questions like:
- Would you share the name of the hotel you stayed at last night?
- Would you share the names of the people you messaged last week?
- Would you share what you had for dinner last week?
Mark’s answers to all these types of questions seems to be; “no.”
I think the one congressman said it best when he said: “I think that may be what this is all about. Your right to privacy, the limits of your right to privacy, and how much you give away in modern America.”
I agree. It is all about our rights to privacy.
Even more, though, it’s about taking responsibility for your actions.
Thought of the week
When you signed up for Facebook you received a message explaining their privacy policy. Did you read it? There’s a question mark icon in the menu of Facebook, with access to lots of privacy settings & information. Have you been in there to set it the way you want it?
As a consumer I am entitled to expect companies like Facebook are protecting my data as agreed. When companies fail to live up their agreements I expect there to be an appropriate response by our legal system.
Beyond the issue of data breaches, I am the only one responsible for what I choose to post. With everything I post I am giving up a little bit of my privacy. If I don’t like giving up my privacy like that, then perhaps I shouldn’t post anything.
You and only you are responsible for your privacy on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and everywhere else in your life.
Take responsibility for your life. No one else will.
