Madhavi Tumkur
Oct 19, 2010

Facebook apologises for breach of online privacy

GLOBAL - In another blow to the privacy settings of the social networking site, Facebook has been accused of relaying personal information such as names, and in some instances friends' names, to advertisers and internet tracking companies.

Facebook apologises for breach of online privacy

While the company stated that the Facebook user ID may have been inadvertently shared via a browser or an application, it assured its users in a public statement that the company would "introduce new technology to contain the problem".

According to Gregory Birge, managing director of F5 Digital Consulting, digital databases have always been at risk and a company must protect this information. “It is like a big bank which must firstly protect its consumer information,” says Birge. “Facebook is not a database. It is an interaction platform for friends. They should ideally not sell data. However, if they do plan to do so, it has to be protected, just like a bank would do.”

Large companies such as Sony or Amex who hire hackers to protect their own codes, exemplify that online information by and large is unsafe and open to hackers.

Birge says that while it is easy to point fingers at Facebook and suggest what they should have done and why it has happened, it is for us all to take this cue to wake up to the fact that data must be encrypted for internet transfer and safeguard against hackers. “While it is unfortunate, Facebook must ensure that it has a much tighter security measure because of its large database,” Birge suggests.

Source:
Campaign Asia

Related Articles

Just Published

4 hours ago

The 12-minute window to CTV’s goldmine

The fight for CTV inventory is fierce, but the most valuable ad space isn't where you think it is. Ramakrishnan Raja says that CMOs must master how to leverage the 12-minute discovery window for maximum impact.

4 hours ago

Digital surge powers APAC ad growth to $289 billion ...

The APAC advertising market grew by 7.5% this year, with digital pure players driving 76% of ad budgets. Traditional media saw modest growth, but the future remains firmly digital as the region braces for an 82% digital share by 2029.

4 hours ago

Brain waves meet horsepower in Audi Vietnam campaign

Forget traditional test drives—Audi's new Q8 campaign is using neuroscience to find owners who share a genuine neural connection with the luxury brand's DNA.

4 hours ago

Move and win roundup: Week of December 9, 2024

Kraft Heinz, fFCB Shout, Dept, Moloco, Anker Innovation, and more in our weekly roundup of people moves and account wins.