Comments on: LinkedIn People You May Know Privacy Controversy http://imonlinkedinnowwhat.com/2009/09/14/linkedin-people-you-may-know-privacy-contrversy/ the blog behind the book Fri, 30 Jul 2010 23:44:45 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: lulu http://imonlinkedinnowwhat.com/2009/09/14/linkedin-people-you-may-know-privacy-contrversy/comment-page-1/#comment-29349 lulu Thu, 22 Jul 2010 07:50:28 +0000 http://imonlinkedinnowwhat.com/?p=520#comment-29349 ...amd this will protect you from ID thieves if nithing else who will hack into facebook at some point for sure, so it's a good idea to change email and name from right now now so that the friends you trust will still regognise you but ID thieves, stalkers and bosses wont. …amd this will protect you from ID thieves if nithing else who will hack into facebook at some point for sure, so it’s a good idea to change email and name from right now now so that the friends you trust will still regognise you but ID thieves, stalkers and bosses wont.

]]> By: lulu http://imonlinkedinnowwhat.com/2009/09/14/linkedin-people-you-may-know-privacy-contrversy/comment-page-1/#comment-29348 lulu Thu, 22 Jul 2010 07:37:40 +0000 http://imonlinkedinnowwhat.com/?p=520#comment-29348 ie to be specific, re above the suggestion.... chopping off all your friends, changing your email address to a spare throwaway one with an empty contacts book and your surname to something like "blank", helps ensure that if you are activated again without your permission, no real damage can be done. ie to be specific, re above the suggestion…. chopping off all your friends, changing your email address to a spare throwaway one with an empty contacts book and your surname to something like “blank”, helps ensure that if you are activated again without your permission, no real damage can be done.

]]> By: Another Peter http://imonlinkedinnowwhat.com/2009/09/14/linkedin-people-you-may-know-privacy-contrversy/comment-page-1/#comment-29301 Another Peter Wed, 21 Jul 2010 04:44:01 +0000 http://imonlinkedinnowwhat.com/?p=520#comment-29301 A note about social networking sites that 1st Peter reminded me of: It's good practice for when you want to leave a site, to manually delete / change all the info therein. When you "quit the site" / "cancel" / "delete" your account, it is safe to assume that the last state it was in is saved indefinitely. This is the case with Facebook, at least, so it is best to cut ties there before "deleting" your account, as it's not against anything (law or EULA) for them to keep a copy of your profile. Cutting these ties and changing your profile to look like a blank slate before deleting it is a safe measure to avoid questionable situations like the ones on this site. A note about social networking sites that 1st Peter reminded me of:

It’s good practice for when you want to leave a site, to manually delete / change all the info therein. When you “quit the site” / “cancel” / “delete” your account, it is safe to assume that the last state it was in is saved indefinitely. This is the case with Facebook, at least, so it is best to cut ties there before “deleting” your account, as it’s not against anything (law or EULA) for them to keep a copy of your profile. Cutting these ties and changing your profile to look like a blank slate before deleting it is a safe measure to avoid questionable situations like the ones on this site.

]]> By: samantha http://imonlinkedinnowwhat.com/2009/09/14/linkedin-people-you-may-know-privacy-contrversy/comment-page-1/#comment-29277 samantha Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:06:41 +0000 http://imonlinkedinnowwhat.com/?p=520#comment-29277 Wow. I have a similar story. I have only logged into LinkedIn twice, once when I set up the account and once today. I have never viewed anyone's profile, nor did I set up my own with any information beyond my name and (now former) employer. No school, no address, etc. I even used a fake email address, so not only did I not import contacts but no one else would have been able to import me since I don't actually use this address. My "People you may know" suggested my college freshman year roommate, my college best friend, a guy from my high school, and someone I met in Italy in 2005. I am Facebook friends with all these people, although my Facebook email address is different (the name is the same). There is also the possibility that they have viewed my LinkedIn profile, although I'm not sure how they would have "found" me aside from randomly googling me (possible, although it would be an unlikely coincidence since I am no longer in touch with some of them) or the "People you may know" feature suggesting me to them (because of our Facebook connection). Aside from Facebook, the only thing I can think of is maybe they do something with names--like searching people's address books for your name rather than your email. I guess it is possible that my name, via my other email address, could be in all of these people's address books. Also, the feature suggests a few random people from college I am not Facebook friends with nor have ever emailed with, but I assume this is because it knows I am connected to the above people (via Facebook, searching names, etc.) and the randoms are somehow connected to them. Truly very strange... Wow. I have a similar story. I have only logged into LinkedIn twice, once when I set up the account and once today. I have never viewed anyone’s profile, nor did I set up my own with any information beyond my name and (now former) employer. No school, no address, etc. I even used a fake email address, so not only did I not import contacts but no one else would have been able to import me since I don’t actually use this address. My “People you may know” suggested my college freshman year roommate, my college best friend, a guy from my high school, and someone I met in Italy in 2005. I am Facebook friends with all these people, although my Facebook email address is different (the name is the same). There is also the possibility that they have viewed my LinkedIn profile, although I’m not sure how they would have “found” me aside from randomly googling me (possible, although it would be an unlikely coincidence since I am no longer in touch with some of them) or the “People you may know” feature suggesting me to them (because of our Facebook connection). Aside from Facebook, the only thing I can think of is maybe they do something with names–like searching people’s address books for your name rather than your email. I guess it is possible that my name, via my other email address, could be in all of these people’s address books.

Also, the feature suggests a few random people from college I am not Facebook friends with nor have ever emailed with, but I assume this is because it knows I am connected to the above people (via Facebook, searching names, etc.) and the randoms are somehow connected to them. Truly very strange…

]]> By: Peter http://imonlinkedinnowwhat.com/2009/09/14/linkedin-people-you-may-know-privacy-contrversy/comment-page-1/#comment-29142 Peter Sat, 17 Jul 2010 00:59:53 +0000 http://imonlinkedinnowwhat.com/?p=520#comment-29142 Agreed Nother. I am sure that LinkedIn drew the inference through my wife's Facebook account. What I meant was the I had no direct electronic connection with this person for LinkedIn to use - with my permission or without. It is also interesting that they used information from my cancelled Facebook account, which was supposed to have been deleted many months previously. I don't think that we need to be able to prove anything to submit a complaint. As this stage LinkedIn is refusing to answer our questions. All I am looking for is a proxy that they will have a harder time ignoring. I think that collectively we have enough information to make a complaint that is sufficiently credible for TRUSTe to pursue. Agreed Nother. I am sure that LinkedIn drew the inference through my wife’s Facebook account. What I meant was the I had no direct electronic connection with this person for LinkedIn to use – with my permission or without. It is also interesting that they used information from my cancelled Facebook account, which was supposed to have been deleted many months previously.

I don’t think that we need to be able to prove anything to submit a complaint. As this stage LinkedIn is refusing to answer our questions. All I am looking for is a proxy that they will have a harder time ignoring. I think that collectively we have enough information to make a complaint that is sufficiently credible for TRUSTe to pursue.

]]> By: Another Peter http://imonlinkedinnowwhat.com/2009/09/14/linkedin-people-you-may-know-privacy-contrversy/comment-page-1/#comment-29097 Another Peter Fri, 16 Jul 2010 04:31:21 +0000 http://imonlinkedinnowwhat.com/?p=520#comment-29097 @Peter: I read above that you have had no electronic connection with the person, but really as I though about this with my situation, I can only be sure of the electronic connection that I initiate and have no control over what others do (such as, say, someone else uploading their mail client contacts with your email among them without your permission). Perhaps there is some connection that you are unaware of? Perhaps it was through the wife/facebook/ghost-from-your-past sort of connection path. As I thought of this, I began thinking of people that may be less tech savvy and sure enough, a cousin of mine (to whom I have no account link) had uploaded her contacts and may have inadvertently linked me to the "person I may know." Although, under this idea, why wasn't I "introduced" to every one of her LinkedIn using contacts? The more likely situation is that the "person I may know" just searched for me. On a Facebook note, I started an account as an experiment to see how I would propagate through my Facebook-loving friends and family. Knowing that some of the people I knew that use that thing had probably given access to their contacts, I knew I would get friend requests without needing to tell anyone I created an account. So, I created an account, set the privacy settings as high as they could be customized, and never logged back in. It was interesting to see how Facebook pimped me out against my will. At first, two or three friend requests. Without even opening the email to confirm or deny the request, people they knew were friending me, and so on and so forth. All without me actually accepting the friend request. Just the action of sending me a request had put me out on the corner for their friends to also send me a request via the similar LinkedIn "people you may know" feature (forgot what it's called on Facebook). Use of external data, not likely as I used an email address that no one new to create the account. Just a blatant disregard to the privacy of those unfortunate enough to click through the EULA without reading it. Also, I share the spirit of taking action but lack the "evidence" to present anything substantial to the case. I've been trying to think of effective experiments to test the suggestion engine, but nothing crafty has surfaced yet. @Peter: I read above that you have had no electronic connection with the person, but really as I though about this with my situation, I can only be sure of the electronic connection that I initiate and have no control over what others do (such as, say, someone else uploading their mail client contacts with your email among them without your permission). Perhaps there is some connection that you are unaware of? Perhaps it was through the wife/facebook/ghost-from-your-past sort of connection path. As I thought of this, I began thinking of people that may be less tech savvy and sure enough, a cousin of mine (to whom I have no account link) had uploaded her contacts and may have inadvertently linked me to the “person I may know.”

Although, under this idea, why wasn’t I “introduced” to every one of her LinkedIn using contacts? The more likely situation is that the “person I may know” just searched for me.

On a Facebook note, I started an account as an experiment to see how I would propagate through my Facebook-loving friends and family. Knowing that some of the people I knew that use that thing had probably given access to their contacts, I knew I would get friend requests without needing to tell anyone I created an account. So, I created an account, set the privacy settings as high as they could be customized, and never logged back in. It was interesting to see how Facebook pimped me out against my will. At first, two or three friend requests. Without even opening the email to confirm or deny the request, people they knew were friending me, and so on and so forth. All without me actually accepting the friend request. Just the action of sending me a request had put me out on the corner for their friends to also send me a request via the similar LinkedIn “people you may know” feature (forgot what it’s called on Facebook). Use of external data, not likely as I used an email address that no one new to create the account. Just a blatant disregard to the privacy of those unfortunate enough to click through the EULA without reading it.

Also, I share the spirit of taking action but lack the “evidence” to present anything substantial to the case. I’ve been trying to think of effective experiments to test the suggestion engine, but nothing crafty has surfaced yet.

]]> By: lulu http://imonlinkedinnowwhat.com/2009/09/14/linkedin-people-you-may-know-privacy-contrversy/comment-page-1/#comment-28996 lulu Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:04:31 +0000 http://imonlinkedinnowwhat.com/?p=520#comment-28996 I think its an important principle that facebook and linkedin should not in any way shape or form be permitted to use emails addresses not handed to them by the owner of that address and its a major flaw that my friends can give them my address to misuse, and use to bring poeple together that could endanger me while I am not even on facebook and haven't signed up to facebooks 50 pages of small print. My email address could be misused by them because my boss let them have it. I am powerless and still at risk as I can hardly order my boss off facebook. Therefore I am wondering if Truste is geared up to doing some experements and checking this whole possibility out. If my fears have foundation surley facebook is breaking some data protection law somewhere. I think its an important principle that facebook and linkedin should not in any way shape or form be permitted to use emails addresses not handed to them by the owner of that address and its a major flaw that my friends can give them my address to misuse, and use to bring poeple together that could endanger me while I am not even on facebook and haven’t signed up to facebooks 50 pages of small print. My email address could be misused by them because my boss let them have it. I am powerless and still at risk as I can hardly order my boss off facebook. Therefore I am wondering if Truste is geared up to doing some experements and checking this whole possibility out. If my fears have foundation surley facebook is breaking some data protection law somewhere.

]]> By: Peter http://imonlinkedinnowwhat.com/2009/09/14/linkedin-people-you-may-know-privacy-contrversy/comment-page-1/#comment-28978 Peter Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:38:58 +0000 http://imonlinkedinnowwhat.com/?p=520#comment-28978 I understand lulu. I was asking whether others who have specific examples of impossible contacts and those who have done some experiments would support the challenge. I understand lulu. I was asking whether others who have specific examples of impossible contacts and those who have done some experiments would support the challenge.

]]> By: lulu http://imonlinkedinnowwhat.com/2009/09/14/linkedin-people-you-may-know-privacy-contrversy/comment-page-1/#comment-28929 lulu Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:18:16 +0000 http://imonlinkedinnowwhat.com/?p=520#comment-28929 plus re committing to supporting your complaint - I have no proof not being on facebook or linked in only fears, suspicions and and what ifs.....which I dare not test out! plus re committing to supporting your complaint – I have no proof not being on facebook or linked in only fears, suspicions and and what ifs…..which I dare not test out!

]]> By: lulu http://imonlinkedinnowwhat.com/2009/09/14/linkedin-people-you-may-know-privacy-contrversy/comment-page-1/#comment-28927 lulu Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:10:00 +0000 http://imonlinkedinnowwhat.com/?p=520#comment-28927 hmm I hope not but pople can be very careless about friending people they dont know -see the comment by Nick Barnes at the bottom of the page on this link. Nick suspects but how can we find out for sure and prevent it, after all at worst case senario pychotic ex could be standing outside your work place waiting for you because he and your boss got chatting and your name was mentioned in casual conversation" Oh is that Lulu XYZ blond girl from Serbia, 29 yers old" " Yes thats her". http://blog.jgc.org/2009/12/facebooks-creepy-privacy.html Nick Barnes said... I have reason to suspect that not only does Facebook retain all the address books, but it uses them to construct a social network model including numerous people who are not on Facebook. It then suggests contacts using this social network, including friends-of-friends where the intermediate node is not on Facebook. That is, if you and I both have Fred in our address books, Facebook will recommend us to each other even if Fred is not a member. And yes, it's creepy. AD627: Cancelling your account is unlikely to help. hmm I hope not but pople can be very careless about friending people they dont know -see the comment by Nick Barnes at the bottom of the page on this link. Nick suspects but how can we find out for sure and prevent it, after all at worst case senario pychotic ex could be standing outside your work place waiting for you because he and your boss got chatting and your name was mentioned in casual conversation” Oh is that Lulu XYZ blond girl from Serbia, 29 yers old” ” Yes thats her”.

http://blog.jgc.org/2009/12/facebooks-creepy-privacy.html

Nick Barnes said…
I have reason to suspect that not only does Facebook retain all the address books, but it uses them to construct a social network model including numerous people who are not on Facebook. It then suggests contacts using this social network, including friends-of-friends where the intermediate node is not on Facebook. That is, if you and I both have Fred in our address books, Facebook will recommend us to each other even if Fred is not a member.
And yes, it’s creepy.

AD627: Cancelling your account is unlikely to help.

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