Last week, we reported that 10 privacy groups, led by the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), had filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission over Facebook’s ill-received new privacy settings. Today, thanks to Ars Technica, we can take a look at the 27 page complaint in detail. To download a PDF of the complaint, click on the link below.
Essentially, EPIC argues that Facebook knowingly misled users into making their profiles more public under the guise of helping them gain greater control over their privacy settings. This argument is echoed in the numerous complaints from Facebook users who suddenly found themselves accidentally sharing their updates and images with the whole world instead of just their friends.
It is unclear at this time what role the complaint will play in forcing Facebook to modify its practices. According to Facebook, the company consulted with the FTC, among other groups, prior to implementing the privacy transition. If this is the case, there is a chance that EPIC’s complaints will fall on deaf ears. Nevertheless, the fact that groups are rallying together in criticism of Facebook shows that people aren’t quite ready to lay down their right to privacy online just yet.
If you’re still struggling to figure out Facebook’s privacy controls, please check out our comprehensive guide to understanding Facebook’s new settings.
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