Top News Story of the Week #4

Facebook users protest retention of information

Facebook, a social website, recently disclosed that [it] could forever retain any personal information, written work and visual media that anyone chooses to publish on their personal Facebook page.

There are tens, maybe hundreds of sites like Facebook that are probably doing the same…they just haven't admitted it yet. Internet dating sites are notorious for using past clients' pictures to attract new ones. Cookies have to be accepted to use some websites, and many use tracking software like "Beacon". A device temporarily employed by Facebook in 2007, "Beacon" was used to detect and then broadcast users' web activities.

It's long known that credit card companies, large retailers like Amazon and even grocery chains like Safeway track everything we buy. The results are used to determine our credit worthiness, the likelihood of future purchases and web activities. The "big brothers" of consumerism have been carefully watching and collecting our information, but now also want the rights to any media that is published on their public sites.

Be careful what you post on the web; you might be giving it away forever!

News Values:

Timeliness: Consumer rights advocates from Consumerist.com just shared this quietly updated policy with the world on Sunday.

Proximity: Affects all public website consumers: Facebook is used globally.

Impact: The legalities of all web published content will become a chief issue in private and public sectors alike. New court rulings can be expected to determine the types of media that different entities can legally take possession.

Prominence: Facebook is quoted as having 175 million users and thus is a well-known website.

Currency: Like digital journalism, social networking websites are major players of the internet: conflicts concerning electronic publishing is an immediate issue.