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An interesting look at what 'Big Data' means to privacy

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40hz:
It's a brave, new world, Mr. Huxley.
-Innuendo (May 02, 2014, 09:54 PM)
--- End quote ---

Got that right. Had it happen to me.

Not too long ago I had a young manager who worked for a potential new client ask to be "friended" in my Facebook account.

When I explained that I don't do social the media 'thing,' this person smirked and said "Yeah sure!" And then went on to tell me how "everybody has a Facebook account these days."

When I said I didn't, and never planned on signing up for Facebook because I didn't like its policies or trust its management, this youngster made it very obvious they were annoyed - and didn't believe me.

My business didn't get their contract. And I've often wondered if the annoyance of this one manager over my not being able to give a Facebook friending was the primary reason. Especially since this company appeared to be quite happy with everything else about us.
 :tellme:

ewemoa:
So where's the movement against these kind of things? ;)

Innuendo:
My business didn't get their contract. And I've often wondered if the annoyance of this one manager over my not being able to give a Facebook friending was the primary reason. Especially since this company appeared to be quite happy with everything else about us.-40hz (May 03, 2014, 11:31 AM)
--- End quote ---

Yes, I'm sure that's what it was. When you refused him, in his mind you were either lying to him, thus you had something to hide or you were telling the truth, and you aren't current with the times. This manager wasn't wanting to friend you on Facebook because he liked you. It was part of the background check they do. Once he had been friended on your social media account, he'd have gone through everything visible on the account with a fine-toothed comb to see if you were the type of person they want to do business with.

Don't get me started on how many employers are starting to ask for social media login credentials as part of the interview process and a preliminary background check. Some states have made this practice illegal, but the vast majority of them still consider it to be legal.

Innuendo:
So where's the movement against these kind of things? ;)-ewemoa (May 03, 2014, 04:40 PM)
--- End quote ---

You can sign up at the booth between the bridge table and the shuffleboard area at the old folks home. ;)

Seriously, social media is an accepted part of everyday life now. Ever pay attention when you're in the break room at work or out to eat at a restaurant? Lots of people sitting at tables together, but they aren't talking to each other. They all have their faces buried in their phones, most likely checking their Facebook pages.

Shades:
Facebook always sends me mail messages about how happy they are that I have logged in, which I do more or less every 6 months or so.

They only excuse I accept from someone burying his/her head in their phone is if their partner is overseas and starts to whatsapp-ing.  Because any other case you are offensive to others sharing the table and you might as well sit alone as you are not contributing to the conversation/activity.

As I have played many tabletop game sessions in my teens and twenties, I enjoy the interaction taking place at the table. I have seen what it does to otherwise shy people. Board games can be very entertaining as these also require social interaction. Even a local LAN party would have more social interaction in its thumb, than all of Facebook combined.

[rant]
Facebook is an insult for intelligence, it is a shame the English language uses that same word for another concept and than Facebook is a godsend. Normally I'll honestly respond to all questions you/an employer/government official asks of me. This information exchange is quite restrictive in nature and exists after that in the memory of a friend or possibly in the database from employer/government. That is quite acceptable to me.

Facebook (or other "social" networks) makes this info available to anyone, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. After all that info is all only one hack away from being on the streets, to be sold to the highest bidder. Furthermore, Facebook actively tries to connect all kinds of other info to your person with or without your permission, also to the highest bidder, while hiding behind EULA's and heavily buried privacy settings.

The above is my main gripe with social networks in general and Facebook in particular. If I would find myself in the situation to be employed in the US and I would meet such a moron manager, I would make sure not to have Facebook account but from the most obscure social network I could find.

That way he/she cannot complain about me not having a "social" presence on the web, only that we disagree on the choice of network. And hopefully drive home the point that the manager should have enough brain to ask me for my information, instead of relying on data, coming from a 3rd party, that might have data I don't agree with associated with it for commercial reasons. Or because of "bit-rot". Or because of untruthful information given by the person.

If they still insist on getting my credentials, I would demand for a recent security audit of their whole computer system. If they cannot prove to being able that they cannot store my credentials in a proper way that hackers cannot reach these, I might as well throw my credentials on the proverbial street and in that case I cannot guarantee anymore if my profile contains the correct information. Implying that employment at their company makes me liable for a situation out of my control is not a big plus for them.

Unreasonable from me? Yes, in a similar fashion as them demanding my credentials!

Still insisting? The world needs more HR drones...only these ones need to be launched by the Obama administration!
[/rant] 

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