Facebook’s New Policy Instructs Developers to Prohibit the Use of Data for Surveillance Purposes
According to a report on CNET, Facebook announced this past Monday that they have already changed policy to prevent developers from using customers’ data for the purposes of surveillance. Rob Sherman, Facebook’s deputy chief privacy officer, explained on the privacy page that “[…] Facebook and Instagram platform policies [shall] clearly explain that developers cannot ‘use data obtained from us to provide tools that are used for surveillance.'” Facebook’s shift in policy comes on the heels of an ACLU report published in October showing that Facebook, Twitter and Instagram shared data with a program devoted to monitoring social media activity. This same program was used by police to keep track of protests in Oakland that focused heavily on the systemic racism of the criminal justice system.
While Facebook’s profits come primarily through advertising, they also sell user data to developers who track social trends. One of those developers is Geofeedia who, according to the ACLU report, “marketed [user data] to law enforcement as a tool to monitor activists and protesters.” The report added that “Geofeedia […] obtain[ed] a ranked feed of public posts from Facebook that mention a specific topic, including hashtags, events, or specific places.”
People like Malkia Cyril, executive director and founder of the Center for Media Justice, were pleased when Facebook changed its policy to prohibit the use of data for surveillance purposes. She said, “We applaud this first step from Facebook and encourage all technology companies to stand on the side of history that supports human rights and dignity.” Of course, the ACLU of California, Color of Change and the Center for Media Justice, all still believe there is more work to be done.
The FCC’s Decision to Block Privacy Rules
Facebook’s actions and the ACLU report are increasingly relevant in light of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) recent vote to suspend an Obama-era regulation that increased the data security requirements for Internet Service Providers (ISPs), such as Verizon or AT&T. Ajit Pai, the current Republican Chairman of the FCC, opposed the rule when it was first affirmed by the FCC in October. He pushed to halt the regulation because “It does not serve consumers’ interests to create two distinct frameworks — one for Internet service providers and one for all other online companies.” In his view, the rule treated ISPs unfairly and favored companies like Facebook and Twitter, which fall under the purview of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). While the rule is suspended indefinitely, Republicans Sen. Jeff Flake (AZ) and Rep. Marsha Blackburn (TN) have both introduced resolutions to repeal the FCC regulation.
With Facebook’s recent change in policy and the apparent push by the GOP to roll back all privacy regulations, it is not unreasonable to wonder whether the onus to protect consumer privacy rights will now fall on large companies. However, with profit motives being the major factor for big business, one questions whether they will take on this burden.
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