Beacon Backlash
Apparently Facebook’s troubles over their much criticized Beacon feature isn’t over yet. For those who don’t recall, there was a backlash back in the fall when Facebook launched the new feature, which interfaces with popular web sites like Amazon and Blockbuster and shares details of your purchase with your friends on Facebook.
Cathryn Elaine Harris of Texas has launched a class action lawsuit against Facebook and Blockbuster stating that Blockbuster violated the federal Video Privacy Protection Act when it shares its rental information. Harris is seeking $2500 per violation by Blockbuster and Facebook, as stated in the act.
The problem was that Beacon was originally set up as a opt-out service instead of opt-in, so many users began finding their off-Facebook activities published on their Facebook profiles for all to see, automatically (and opting out was difficult). Since Beacon was launched close to the holiday shopping season, many users not only complained that their privacy was being grossly violated, but that Beacon had also ruined surprise presents that had been purchased online by publishing them to Facebook.
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