For those of you who joined Facebook before April 2007, you may remember when the Web site’s logo featured the visage of an unknown, genial looking man known to most simply as “Facebook Guy.”
Eugene To/Editorial Artist
Who knew that man would turn out to be so vicious?
This month Facebook attempted to change its terms of use to give it proprietary rights over the content you upload to the site indefinitely — even if you deactivated your account (See Page 1). Thankfully, the terms have since been revised.
It’s frightening to think about what Facebook was attempting to do. Internet users know they need to be cautious with the bevy of things that can go wrong in cyberspace, like having your identity stolen or downloading a virus. Even on Facebook, people are cautious these days, knowing that current and future employers, the police and anyone else with access to your profile can find those pictures of you getting really sloppy in Mountainview.
But the little alteration Facebook, for its own financial gain, inserted into clauses in its fine text fully transformed you into a marketing tool. It had license to do whatever it wanted with the likely sensitive information you gave it.
It was beyond wily. It was thoroughly deceitful. Facebook knows the social pressure on its users to join, and it also knows it’s human nature not to read fine print. It’s like a Venus flytrap, closing in on the unassuming fly. Except this Venus flytrap is monstrous and global.
As the user, you need to be even more on your guard now.
The digital world has become so corrupt that the New York Times wrote this month about a new, more secure Internet that could be on the way.
But the corruption of corporations, and their desire to take advantage of customers, is age-old and won’t disappear. Remember, that behind Facebook Guy’s affable mug lies a real slimeball.