Following the controversy that has erupted over Facebook automatically tagging people in photos online, leading law firm Thomas Eggar looks at the bigger issue of how must trust we put in large companies with our data.
It has been reported that Facebook’s primary error was making this technology opt-out rather than opt-in – a further example of Facebook’s default settings getting it into trouble.
However, the real issue is far wider. It amounts to whether people are happy to deposit large amounts of personal information in one place where technological advances may overtake their intentions.
Currently, Facebook is restricting its face recognition software to users’ friends, but what level of privacy control does Facebook give its users?
Can users opt-out of being suggested for tagging by their friends in their friends’ photos? If the option is turned off does that mean the processing of the images on Facebook’s servers stops or just that the suggestions are not made to the user? What happens if Facebook starts suggesting you be friends with someone who may appear in a photo with you but who you don’t (currently) know? What if Facebook should obtain access to CCTV feeds and combine this with its Places and Faces technology?
Facebook undoubtedly raises questions of privacy and many of these will be met by its terms and conditions, if not the implied consent that users grant by having a Facebook profile.
However, the question users will be asking themselves is: do I trust Facebook? If the answer is yes, then the technology developments are gifts from Facebook. If no, the ability of users to remain in control of their information and still have a convenient Facebook profile is likely to be the corporation’s next big challenge.
Source: www.thomaseggar.com/
