Facebook sued over accusations it scans users’ private messages and shares the data with advertisers

snoopy · Jan 4, 2014

Facebook sued over accusations it scans users’ private messages and shares the data with advertisers

Facebook Inc. was sued over allegations it systematically intercepts its users’ private messages on the social network and profits by sharing the data with advertisers and marketers.

When users compose messages that include links to a third- party website, Facebook scans the content of the message, follows the link and searches for information to profile the message-sender’s Web activity, violating the Electronic Communications Privacy Act and California privacy and unfair competition laws, according to the suit. The practice compromises privacy and undermines Facebook’s promise of “unprecedented” security options for its messaging function, two Facebook users said in the complaint filed in federal court in San Jose, California.

Lawsuits against Internet companies and social networks are multiplying as use of the Web balloons and users become more aware of how much personal information they’re revealing, often without their knowledge. Google Inc., Yahoo! Inc. and LinkedIn Corp. also are facing accusations of intercepting communications for their profit at the expense of users or non-users.
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Full story: http://business.financialpost.com/2...es-the-data-with-advertisers/?__lsa=460f-bfe0

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