Entries from February 2011 ↓
February 28th, 2011 | CyberBullying, Facebook, Internet Safety, Legal Issues, Online Reputation Management, Parenting, Privacy, Quick Hits | Rob Frappier
In today’s Quick Hits, we talk about Facebook’s new simplified privacy policy, how police are cracking down on cyberbullies in the U.K., and how a despicable scam is costing some women thousands.
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In an effort to appease critics and make its privacy policies more clear to its nearly 600 million users, Facebook has updated its privacy policy to explain how the website uses user data in simplified terms. According to AOL’s Switched blog, “Facebook’s revamped policy is now presented in a noticeably more user-friendly layout; information is divided into smaller, more digestible sections, each of which is titled in more colloquial terms (e.g., ‘How advertising works,’ ‘Your information and how it is used’).”
In a letter proving that Web security is becoming a hot issue in Congress, New York Sen. Charles Schumer called on Facebook and other major web companies to change their default settings from HTTP to HTTPS access, to ensure that consumers can access the websites securely from shared wireless networks. Facebook recently made HTTPS access an option for users, but it is not standard.
In a scam that is becoming more and more common, fraudsters are setting up fake profiles on Facebook and pretending to be members of the United States military to con women out of money. This report from the Associated Press details the scam and how some victims have lost thousands of dollars because of it.
According to PCWorld, “Police in the U.K. are clamping down on cyberbullying on social networks such as Facebook by issuing warning messages to the bullies and their parents.” One police official claims that “by sending a police warning notice on Facebook, students will be made aware they could be prosecuted.” Also, “by alerting their parents to the problem, we are aiming to nip the problem in the bud and prevent it becoming something more serious.” As cyberbullying becomes more and more of a concern, police and education officials are working hard to figure out ways to protect children and teens online.
According to Clickz.com, “the Interactive Advertising Bureau will give members up to six months to comply with a code of conduct for behavioral targeted advertising. New members must comply within three months or else forfeit their membership.” The IAB’s efforts to enforce a strict code of conduct come as Congress debates passing legislation to offer an easy opt-out of Internet tracking. Many privacy activists have been critical of self-regulation efforts to date.
On Friday, the Wall Street Journal featured an article discussing how Microsoft and Facebook have each taken steps recently to improve consumer privacy protections. Specifically, the article talks about Microsoft’s plans for a Do Not Track feature on Internet Explorer and Facebook’s changes to its privacy policy.
February 25th, 2011 | Google, Online Reputation Management | Rob Frappier
This week, Google made one of the biggest changes to its search algorithm in the company’s history, altering 12% of all search results and directly impacting so-called “content farms” such as Demand Media and eHow among others. The move has been praised by some who say it rids Google of spammy content, while other are criticizing the company for such a major change, claiming that it impacts the quality of their Internet businesses.
Google is constantly tweaking its algorithm to deliver what it perceives to be the “best” result first. Those who are lucky enough to land on the top spot on Google reap tremendous rewards in clicks and visits. Unfortunately, it also means that people who know how to abuse Google can turn the search engine into a powerful weapon for online defamation.
A persistent and determined online attack can take up a top spot on Google for years, making it all but impossible for individuals and business who haven’t invested in online reputation management tools to protect their good names online.
From an online reputation management perspective, Google’s change (while significant) is par for the course. At Reputation.com, we focus on giving individuals the power to set the record straight online and present a fair and truthful representation of who they are to the world. Whenever Google makes search changes, whether they’re small or large, we pay attention and we learn from it.
As Reputation.com CEO Michael Fertik has said, “Google is not God, it is not the First Amendment, and it’s not the truth. It’s probably the best machine of the last 10 years, but it’s just a machine.” Despite the company’s best efforts to determine what is and is not relevant, it is not always accurate. This latest algorithm change will help Google weed out content spammers, but they will undoubtedly find another way to game the system with enough time. Likewise, anonymous cyberbullies will still be able to use tricks to attack people and businesses online.
That’s why, if you’re a professional or small business owner, it’s imperative to invest in online reputation management tools like those offered by Reputation.com. With our help, you can stay one step ahead of Google and control your personal data online. For more information, please call us today at 877-720-6488 or contact us by e-mail using our online form.
February 25th, 2011 | CyberBullying, Facebook, Google, Internet Safety, Legal Issues, Online Reputation Management, Parenting, Privacy, Quick Hits | Rob Frappier
In today’s Quick Hits, we talk about Facebook security, why Google is being investigated by the House of Representatives, and good news for the children’s social networking website Togetherville.
Facebook, which has already taken steps to improve security on its main website through HTTPS encryption, is now moving to add similar safeguards for mobile devices and all Facebook apps. Not all third-party developers are prepared to switch to HTTPS, so the process will take a bit of time, but ultimately it will provide stronger protection against scammers for Facebook users.
We knew there would be trouble after Google requested the last four digits of children’s social security numbers for its Doodle 4 Google contest, and it looks like the government already has plans to investigate the issue. According to PCMag, the bi-partisan House Privacy Caucus has agreed to conduct a hearing at the request of Consumer Watchdog, a consumer advocacy group focused on privacy issues. Whatever the results of the hearing, Google’s so-so reputation on privacy issues continues to be on display.
In an effort to offer a more personalized search experience, Microsoft has “deepened Bing’s integration with Facebook to the point where users of the search engine will see their friends’ ‘likes’ among search results.” According to InformationWeek, Bing’s frequent social tweaks may be helping the search engine gain valuable market share against Google. However, Google is also developing more sophisticated social search technology, albeit less focused on Facebook since the two are becoming more intensely competitive.
The Walt Disney Company has acquired the kids only social networking website Togetherville. Togetherville, which was only launched in May of last year, was unique among websites for children in that it focused on a “real name culture” similar to Facebook. Other kid-friendly social networking websites tend to use avatars and treat identity abstractly. Togetherville is also unique for its integration with Facebook and how it allows parents to maintain a high level of involvement and control over their child’s social networking experience.
According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “state police said Thursday they expect to arrest in the next week the people responsible for creating a Facebook page that made claims about the sex lives of girls in Beaver County.” The page, distastefully titled “Beaver Hoez,” “included images of 25 girls, most of them high school-age but some as young as 13, that were lifted from the victims’ Facebook pages and posted with fake biographies that included sexually explicit descriptions.” Police will likely charge the creator of the page with misdemeanor harassment.
February 24th, 2011 | Careers, Facebook, Google, Legal Issues, Online Reputation Management, Privacy, Quick Hits | Rob Frappier
In today’s Quick Hits, we have two different stories of people who were fired over their online comments plus insights from Facebook on the FTC’s privacy proposals.
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After a thorough investigation into allegedly improper Facebook comments, city officials in Bourne, Massachusetts, have decided to fire a 16-year veteran firefighter. According to the city’s investigation, the firefighter “reportedly used a homosexual slur,” and “wrote of his anger at having to work on July 4, 2010″ among other incidents.
The firefighter’s union has said it will back the man if he decides to sue the city over his termination. Recently, a Connecticut ambulance company employee successfully sued her employer over her Facebook-related termination. The precedent set in that case will likely play a role in the firefighter’s decision to sue the city.
A new Facebook app, which allowed users to track relationship statuses on the site, has come down almost as quickly as it went up. According to MSNBC, Facebook banned the app, called Breakup Notifier, because it was too popular. Apparently, Facebook took down the app out of fears that it was spammy. The creator of the app has been unable to get in touch with anyone at Facebook to offer more details.
American political discourse is often littered with inflammatory comments and overly tough rhetoric, but one Indiana official may have taken things too far when he used his Twitter account to call for “live ammunition” to be used on protesters in Wisconsin. According to MSNBC, the official, who worked as a deputy attorney general for the state, was uncovered as the Twitter user after Mother Jones magazine investigated the messages and his related blog posts. After reviewing the comments, an Indiana spokesman announced that the attorney no longer held his position and that, while they “respect individuals’ First Amendment right to express their personal views on private online forums,” public servants are “held by the public to a higher standard, and we should strive for civility.”
Facebook joined hundreds of other tech companies in filing an official response to the FTC’s recent consumer privacy proposals. This article from the Huffington Post gives an overview of Facebook’s response, noting that the company’s position values self-regulation among Internet companies and recommends that the FTC should take into account “evolving perceptions of privacy” among consumers. For a company that has been in the spotlight on privacy issues since its inception, this 29 page filing is perhaps the best and most clear explanation of where Facebook stands on privacy. For the record, Reputation.com’s response to the FTC report can be found on the Reputation.com Blog.
According to the Wall Street Journal, “Switzerland’s top administrative court said it will rule on whether Google Inc.’s (GOOG) map service is legal in Switzerland in coming weeks, following a public hearing in court Thursday.” Privacy concerns over Google’s Street View service have been especially prominent in Europe, where a number of countries launched high-profile investigations into Google after it was revealed that the company collected Wi-Fi payload data via its Street View cars.
February 23rd, 2011 | CyberBullying, Facebook, Google, Internet Safety, Legal Issues, Online Reputation Management, Privacy, Quick Hits | Rob Frappier
In today’s Quick Hits, Google asks kids for the last four digits of their social security numbers (a perplexing privacy fail) and Sarah Palin defends her Facebook activity.
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For a company that’s constantly facing criticism over data privacy issues, one has to wonder why Google recently required children to share the last four digits of their social security numbers in order to participate in the company’s Doodle-4-Google competition. According to a Google spokesperson, the information was supposed “to help us keep entries distinct and remove duplicate entries from any particular student.” Google admitted however that “we later updated our forms when we recognized that we could sufficiently separate legitimate contest entries while requesting less information.” It’s curious that a smart company like Google wouldn’t have gone down that route to begin with.
Yesterday, the blog Wonkette unearthed a Facebook profile tied to Sarah Palin’s e-mail address using the screen name “Lou Sarah.” Lou Sarah “liked” all of Sarah Palin’s content, left inspiring messages to other Palin fans, and was also a big fan of Bristol Palin’s Dancing with the Stars appearances. Putting two and two together, the blog assumed that Palin (whose middle name is Louise) was using the fake Facebook profile to astroturf, or provide fake grassroots support, for her actual official profile.
Today, Politico reported that Palin has refuted Wonkette’s claims writing on her Facebook page, “Please know that this is my only authentic Facebook account and SarahPalinUSA is my only authentic Twitter account. Pay no attention to the fake accounts and their fake messages.” Despite Palin’s announcement, however, one has to wonder why Lou Sarah’s only Facebook friends were Palin family members and advisors.
According to a new article in The Atlantic, “days after the American Civil Liberties Union went public with the story of a Maryland corrections officer who was asked for his Facebook login information during a job interview, the state’s Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) has suspended that practice.” The DPSCS has suspended the practice for 45 days while it reconsiders the procedure.
According to a report in the Daily Mail, “an internet tribute to a taunted public schoolgirl who died under a train has itself been hijacked by bullies. Natasha MacBryde, 15, was killed on St Valentine’s Day following rumours that she had been teased about her parents’ divorce. Friends set up a remembrance page to the ‘model pupil’ on Facebook so well-wishers could post messages. But amidst the fond memories came sick postings including one which said: ‘Natasha wasn’t bullied, she was just a whore’, while another said: ‘I caught the train to heaven LOL (laugh out loud).’ Other users then clicked on ‘like’ to indicate that they agreed with the posts.”
These types of messages, which are sadly not uncommon on Facebook memorial pages, drew criticism from the girl’s father, Andrew MacBryde, who wondered why Facebook didn’t take a more active role in monitoring bullying content.
Before Mark Zuckerberg changed the entire Internet landscape with Facebook, the Web was predominately a place for anonymous sharing. People used pseudonyms rather than their real names and considered it unsafe to give out too much personal information. Now, however, sharing your real name is an important part of being successful on the social Web. Of course, it also poses some problems if you’re trying to overthrow a dictatorial regime.
This article from CNET’s Caroline McCarthy discusses a movement to help Middle East protesters use Facebook anonymously to plan rallies and keep in communication. The fear is that without anonymity individual protesters who use their real names on Facebook can be found by the government and punished for their actions.
