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Anybody else sick of hearing "OMG Facebook is spying on us!"?
KynloStephen66515:
So...once again, Facebook are in the spotlight...this time it is because of permissions used within the Facebook Messenger Android App.
This story has been hitting my Facebook Feed, and also been featured on TV/Radio...and I am sick of hearing it...It all feels like it has been written by The Daily Mail (We all know how much crap they put into the world...)
To sum it up...people are bitching that Facebook Messenger needs to use things like Contacts, Camera and Microphone...I mean...It asks your permission to do so...not like they are HIDING it...also...those permissions are generic as hell and used for specific features within a crap load of different software...like...say...You would obviously have to give a custom dialing app permission to make calls and view your contact list and such, much like you would expect to give an app that allows you to take and edit pictures, access to use your camera...yet all of a sudden, people are going ape-shit about Facebook Messenger wanting permission to use these things...
As I got fed up with it, I posted this on my Facebook to try shut people up...
Read Here...Contains Strong Language
Urgh...Right...Lets settle some things about Facebook Messenger...sick of seeing it in my news feed...
1. Yes it needs your permission to use the Camera...because you can take photos using it.
2. Yes it needs your permission to use the Microphone...because you can send voice messages...or use it to call people...pretty sure you need a microphone for that
Asides from those, they also have the following permissions...alongside this...I will show you why they ask!
Read your text messages (SMS or MMS): If you add a phone number to your account, this allows us to confirm your phone number automatically by finding the confirmation code that we send via text message.
Take pictures and videos: This permission allows you to take photos and videos within the Messenger app to easily send to your friends and other contacts
Record audio: This permission allows you to send voice messages, make free voice calls, and send videos within Messenger
Directly call phone numbers: This permission allows you to call a Messenger contact by tapping on the person's phone number, found in a menu within your message thread with the person
Receive text messages (SMS): If you add a phone number to your Messenger account, this allows you to confirm your phone number by finding the confirmation code that we send via text message
Read your contacts: This permission allows you to add your phone contacts as Messenger contacts if you choose to do so. You can always stop syncing your phone contacts by going to your Messenger settings
So...In short...shut the fuck up and stop complaining and claiming it is for spying on you...know the facts...and seriously...if you feel threatened by it...uninstall the fucking thing and stop spamming the world with your pseudo-scientific bullshit.
Renegade:
My guess is that if you knew more about what is happening with Big Data you would be scared shitless and on the opposite side of the fence.
Also, services like Facebook conveniently have clauses that allow them to change the terms of their agreements without your consent. So, you go from your camera being used to simply do video chats with friends, to your camera being used to monitor your facial expressions while you're reading online in order to push content at you, which may be ads or political messages or content designed to alter your mood, etc.
They need to have strong conditions in their agreement regarding the usage of devices and stop altering the T&C. Until then, it's not worth the bother of agreeing then uninstalling/deleting/whatever once you're done using it.
But, I stopped using Facebook.
While I don't use extreme measures for my cameras, they are pointed at the ceiling when not in use.
KynloStephen66515:
On the point of cameras pointing at the ceiling when not in use...I have that habit...more for the fact it freaks me out knowing I have a lens pointed at me...not through the thought somebody could see me...couldn't care less about that...not much to see ;)
Anyhow...the point wasn't what they could possibly do in the future (Which...I highly doubt they would do for very long before somebody clicked on to it)...it is about what they are doing now...People have gotten hysterical in typical Daily Mail style about it, when it is unfounded and pointless. Yes there are dodgy applications that WILL do all the dodgy crap that people are thinking Facebook are doing now...but being a HUGE company...there are more eyes watching them, than there could ever be watching us ;) The power of the people far outweighs that of companies.
Typically, people go crazy about it...yet they still use it...personally I couldn't care less about the privacy aspect of things when it comes to me...I only put the information that I don't care about sharing, online...anything else...I NEVER put online and NEVER have...and to this day...that information still isn't available online :)
We could go on and on about the politics of it all but realistically...even you can agree...when they have the eyes of the world staring in their direction...it would be a bloody miracle if they managed to sneak anything by the world without somebody noticing within 30 minutes of it happening.
I saw something recently that actually made me laugh, and does somewhat fit perfectly into this situation...
"Tell people not to panic over Ebola, and people freak out...tell people to panic over global warning and they reply "lol...where's my coat?""
Don't wanna get onto the whole Ebola subject...or global warming for that matter...just feels like it fits here.
My guess is that if you knew more about what is happening with Big Data you would be scared shitless and on the opposite side of the fence.
-Renegade (August 17, 2014, 08:14 PM)
--- End quote ---
I actually do keep on top of these things...and yet..not actually worried...I have no reason to be...like I mentioned above...the information that I don't want people to know...I have never put online in any form. They can sell any of the data that I have shared...if it is worth something to them...good for them...just wish I could make some money from it ;)
Renegade:
Thing is, Big Data doesn't need any "important" information. They can figure things out well enough already.
e.g. Your disparaging comments against the Daily Mail already show attitudes that can be used to target you. Your username includes information that can be used to link to other accounts (albeit other data is likely needed to increase the confidence in linking).
Facebook (and similar) doesn't weigh things in their favour by dropping 1 kg weights on the scales; they drop a grain of sand at a time. They boil frogs.
KynloStephen66515:
Hey...if disparaging comments about Daily Mail shit means I see less stuff FROM the daily mail...I don't really see the problem ;)
Honestly though...we all know our information is being bought, linked, sold, auctioned, taken apart, put back together, and whatever else...life is life and the only way to solve it is to use Tor and register for everything under a pseudonym lol
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