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Facebook and the Government
By jonathan | May 9, 2007
Here’s a great, albeit scary, video I found on the web entitled “Does what happens in the Facebook stay in the Facebook?”. It’s a video about the possible involvement and relationship of Facebook with the federal government. At just 4 minutes in length, it won’t take you long to watch it. I highly encourage you, even beg you, to watch the whole thing. It’s very interesting and I think it’s something that we must raise awareness about. And yes I know, the narrator’s voice is somewhat annoying.
This video correlates to my post earlier this month about how Facebook and MySpace are privacy nightmares. This video sheds light on a different privacy concern however. In my earlier post I was discussing the threats that normal people could pose by using information from the two social networking sites. Now we’re faced with the very possible potential that Facebook has a direct relationship with the federal government and that it may even be involved as a source of data mining for the government. During the past couple years it’s been publicized that these data mining and surveillance programs do exist. Look at the AT&T and NSA story. The Bush wiretapping and surveillance project. No longer does the Facebook/Government relationship seem like just a conspiracy theory.
In my own personal opinion, you are a moron if you put as much information on these websites as is possible. Facebook goes as far as to ask you for everything from movies interests, job history, hometown, phone numbers, email, clubs, sexual orientation, etc. Again, this is why I don’t have an account on either site. I’m not a glutton for attention. I don’t have to have it and I’m sure not going to publish all my personal information for everyone to see.
Another aspect some people haven’t embraced is the fact that employers are starting to use these two sites to screen potential employees. Your next job could be lost or gained based on your Myspace and Facebook profiles. Scary? You bet. Law enforcement has even begun to use these two sites as sources of information, clues, and leads in ongoing investigations and potential threats. Think back to 2006 and the number of school “threats” that were circumvented due to the moron posting his plan and ideas on his Myspace page.
Watch the video, and tell me what you think. Facebook and the Government, not as far fetched as one might hope.
Popularity: 34% [?]
Topics: Anonymity, Government, Identity Theft, Surveillance |
June 11th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
[...] Facebook and the Government [...]
June 13th, 2007 at 6:48 pm
Interesting video. I’m not sure how much less information the government will have about you if you don’t have a Facebook or MySpace account. I wonder how much useful information they are getting as a result of it.
June 14th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Ankur,
You’re probably absolutely right on both counts. However, just as in IT Security you approach it from a defense-in-depth model, this is how I look at Privacy. There is never going to be a single surefire way to remain private in life. Therefore, I attempt to privatize my life in a number of different “layers” per se.
One of those layers is not having a Facebook or MySpace account.
And as far as how much useful information they are getting out of everything right now? Probably not a whole lot. This is the transition phase we are living in right now. Everything that is done now, is about the future. Soon, we will be so use to having the government intermingled into our personal affairs that it will be commonplace and will no longer resisted at all. I’ve probably said it before, and I’ll say it again, watch Minority Report for a fairly accurate depiction of life in 20, maybe even 10 years.
Thanks for the comment Ankur!
December 11th, 2007 at 7:43 am
I heard that facebook was leading to a worldwide govenerment.
January 8th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU!