Software companies with their glitches and sanctioned penalties by FTC – Part 1

Technology companies always bring innovation to the world and there are always glitches found in the services. Sometimes these faults are unintentional and sometimes they are deliberate. This is what keeps Federal Communications Commission (FCC) busy the whole time.

Facebook Privacy Issues

Facebook has always been FCC’s crosshairs but last year Federal Trade Commission was the one who tapped the social network on its head. The website was confirmed by FTC to be involved in certain privacy infringements.

The social network was issued a charge sheet by FTC upon the confirmation of such crimes. The main violation from the company has the release of users’ private information to third-party apps directly and indirectly, bringing Facebook to the spotlight.

Following are the excerpts from the charge sheet:

• Facebook represented that third-party apps that users’ installed would have access only to user information that they needed to operate. In fact, the apps could access nearly all of users’ personal data — data the apps didn’t need.

• Facebook said it complied with the U.S.- EU Safe Harbor Framework governing data transfer between the U.S. and the European Union. Untrue, said the FTC.

• Facebook told users they could restrict sharing of data to limited audiences. The reality, according to the FTC: Electing “Friends Only” did not prevent their information from being shared with third-party applications their friends used.

• Facebook had a “Verified Apps” program which it claimed certified the security of participating apps. Untrue, said the FTC.

• Facebook promised users that it would not share their personal information with advertisers. Untrue, said the FTC.

• Despite claiming that photos and videos would be inaccessible after users deactivated or deleted their accounts, Facebook allowed access to the content, according to the FTC.

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Posted by Usman Khalid on May 5 2012. Filed under Sci-Tech. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.