Privacy Group To Attack Facebook’s Beacon Ads


Facebook’s Tracking of User Activity Riles Privacy Advocates, Members from the Wall Street Journal reports privacy group MoveOn.org is attacking Facebook over their Beacon Ads product.

MoveOn.org has an online petition that asks:

When you buy a book or movie online–or make a political contribution–do you want that information automatically shared with the world on Facebook?

That is what privacy advocates are worried about. These beacon ads follow you around the web and update your information with your non-Facebook activities. Privacy advocates say this goes too far and Facebook should stop doing this all together or make it much easier to opt out.

Chris Kelly, chief privacy officer of Facebook, told the Wall Street Journal that it is very easy to opt out. Whenever data may be transferred to Facebook, a user has the option to deny that request. How so? The Wall Street Journal says a box is displayed in the corner of your browser telling you the outside web site is sending that information to Facebook. If you do not want that information to be sent, you can click a button that says “No, thanks” and the information won’t be sent.

But privacy advocates say this should be an opt in feature and not an opt out feature.

Find more discussion and coverage on this Facebook controversy at Techmeme.



Barry Schwartz is Search Engine Land's News Editor and owns RustyBrick, a NY based web consulting firm. He also runs Search Engine Roundtable, a popular search blog on very advanced SEM topics. Barry's personal blog is named Cartoon Barry and he can be followed on Twitter here.

See more articles by Barry Schwartz >


Share, Bookmark & Discuss This Article
More:


Keep Updated: News Via Email | News Via RSS Feed | News Via Twitter


See more stories like this in the Members Library! Check out the Facebook sections of the Members Library where this story is filed. Members also get access to exclusive video content, a members-only weekly & monthly newsletter, plus more. Check out all the benefits!

Comments are closed.


RECENT COMMENTS

  • Aaron Bradley said " Thanks for highlighting the fact that Hitwise was comparing Google News with Facebook and Twitter, a"
  • Aven said " Wow, they WOULD do that.. Twitter is at it again huh? But I do think that is a great idea seeing as "
  • Stupidscript said " Now THAT was some seriously good s**t! If there was a website filled with nothing but high-level inf"

See All »


FREE DAILY SEARCH NEWS RECAP!

SearchCap is a once-per-day newsletter update:

STAY CURRENT THROUGHOUT THE DAY

Our feed & social options update you as news happens.


Advertise With Us »

Search Marketing Expo

Search Engine Land produces SMX, the Search Marketing Expo conference series. SMX events deliver the most comprehensive educational and networking experiences - whether you're just starting in search marketing or you're a seasoned expert.


SMX Web Site » | SMX Difference » | SMX News »


Join us at an upcoming SMX event:

Search Marketing Now Learn more about search marketing with our free online webcasts and webinars from our sister site, Search Marketing Now. Upcoming online events include:


See more webcast topics »

FOLLOW US SOCIALLY
Upcoming Search Engine Land Conferences

Get Your Search Engine Land
Premium Membership!

Become a premium member today and receive:

  • Express commenting privileges & photo.
  • Exclusive videos & newsletters.
  • Discounts to our SMX conferences.
  • Access to "How To" & Other Archives.

Learn More

Upcoming Search Engine Land Conferences
Add to GoogleAdd to My Yahoo!Add to BloglinesAdd to NetvibesAdd to Windows Live