Let's all talk about: FaceBook & privacy

The privacy of FaceBook users has been a big issue in one of the week's main news stories, and has been discussed both in the UK's "traditional" media and on law and technology blogs.

The story in question is about Oxford University using FaceBook to snoop on its students, fining some for bad behaviour based on (debauched) images it has discovered. Lilian Edward's Pangloss blog has a good piece on this, as does Technollama. It seems to me that the key point arising from this story, and similar ones about FaceBook being used by employers as a means of checking up on potential employees, is that monitoring and protecting your personal reputation is now an issue for all those who socialise and network online.

We live in an age when information can be very easily disseminated. For example, the new Harry Potter book is accessible online by dubious means. However, it isn't just big business that needs to monitor what's said about them online. Users of social networking utilities like FaceBook face similar issues.

Users need to be aware that what they put on social networking sites is not necessarily private or going to stay private. Equally, people need to be aware of what others have said or uploaded on these sites about them.

Many business people and professionals use "social networking" sites, and we're all allowed a social life. However, these sites are now also being used for professional networking, so the reputation issue becomes more serious. Users of these sites need to keep an eye on what's said about them, who can view their information, and so on. And if you really don't want your social and professional lives mixing up, keep them separate online.

Comments

[Martin George]

Good post, Alex. My response is here: http://www.martingeorge.org/2007/07/facebook-oxford-and-privacy.html

We certainly haven't seen the last of this particular battle between the universities and the students, that's for sure.

[Alex]

Thanks Martin. Good response! I will make a further response later this week, when I've got a bit more time...