It would be better if Facebook didn't hoover up data not explicitly entered into their app or website.
In fact I think that should be the basis of privacy laws everywhere: You can only use data that the user personally entered into your application or website. Data should only be available across your different "properties" it they are branded as being part of a single platform.
It would be much more in tune with the average persons understanding of something like Facebook.
Your suggestion might actually lead to something very interesting.
Once a day when someone logs into FB, they should be presented with a word problem asking if the data they have thus far submitted to Facebook can be used to mine such-and-such fact about them.
If they cannot answer correctly, FB should not do said type of mining. As their understanding of the potential for mining info increases, FB is also allowed to add that type of mining.
This would be a win-win. People would actually understand what is going on, and FB itself has something to fall back on when the day comes when people turn this into an inquest (more a question of when than if in my view).
And I wish all the big tech companies would do something like that.
>People would actually understand what is going on
I don't think that's in the interest of companies like Facebook or Google. If people understood how their data can be used, many would close their accounts immediately. Data mining companies, and their customers are best served by keeping the public in the dark as much as possible. Revealing how much they actually know about us would cause trouble, if nothing else then simply because it's creepy as hell to many of us.
The funny thing is that while I think all this data mining is creepy, I also believe it's useless in most cases. The only thing I've seen work well over time is Amazons recommendation of books.
Its also not in my interest to reduce my net worth by paying taxes. But it happens promptly each year. Maybe its time we demanded this from the companies.
Also, I would argue it is indirectly in the interest of said companies and their employees if they prefer that their legacy is to avoid being referred to in the same bracket as the Enrons and the Arthur Andersens of the world.
The trouble is, they are also too big to fail now. The thing that petrifies me more than a thriving Facebook is a Facebook on the brink of collapse and which has nothing to lose.
In fact I think that should be the basis of privacy laws everywhere: You can only use data that the user personally entered into your application or website. Data should only be available across your different "properties" it they are branded as being part of a single platform.
It would be much more in tune with the average persons understanding of something like Facebook.