Information Madness

Facebook has once again in the news in the case of Privacy breaching content of its users, according to latest reports in the media. This time Facebook is under fire because of a feature that recognizes user’ face or tag pictures. This face recognition software is allowed members to tag their friends on the site.

Started just 6 months before in US, has received good response from its regular users. Now it’s in the roll out stage. Tag suggestions is today available at most of the countries, as per as Facebook official record.  Tag Suggestions basically works on mechanism to facial recognition software to match newly uploaded photos to photos that have been tagged elsewhere and suggests the name of the friend in the photo for tagging. It came under inspection after detailed analysis by Security firm Sophos. Security firm has objected to the key enabling of the photo tagging feature without giving users any notice and the fact that it is an opt-in instead of an opt-out process, meaning users were included except in the case when user changed their settings.

The issue is here with creepily tagging feature, which allows your friend to tag without asking you. Only thing is to untag you after tagging, since it is tagged then will also appear in the public post until unless user untags him/her. This is simply breaching of fundamental privacy which makes you feel uncomfortable & lead to any major issue. (As mentioned by Sophos Blog Post)

Recently a member of the US House of Representatives objected to the opt-in nature of the photo tagging feature on Facebook, which has been obligatory to endure a number of privacy storms over the past few years.  "Requiring users to stop this feature after they've already been included by Facebook is no alternate for an opt-in process," said Representative Edward Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts. (Courtesy AFP)

With respect to this claim Facebook replied "We launched Tag Suggestions to help people add tags of their friends in photos; something that's currently done more than 100 million times a day,”  Facebook apologies for not sharing enough information due to privacy concern. Currently, Facebook keeps a close eye on roll-out process to make a clear stand on entire issue. We hope that it won’t violate any more privacy issues as Facebook shares favorism across virtual circle.

News Source: AFP