At one time, one of the great allures of surfing the Internet was that one could do it with complete anonymity. Today, the anonymity we all enjoyed while surfing the web are long behind us. Advertisers caught on long ago in how to increase their sales by finding out our secret search habits.Over the years, privacy issues have been a major concern for consumers and consumer advocates who look to maintain users right to privacy from marketers seeking information about every site a consumer visits.
On November 6, 2007, social networking site Facebook added a privacy-busting feature called Beacon that tracks sites that Facebook users visit. The motive is to place advertising in front of the members based on the sites they visit. Facebook has already signed up several participating companies for this program.
Originally, Beacon was deployed without the owner’s consent. Now after all the controversy, users can opt out of the feature. Even more alarming is how Beacon gives Facebook's members a heads up on participating sites their friends visit. For example, if you searched a participating site to buy your spouse a gift, your secret wouldn't be such a secret once Facebook emails friends about your purchase.
I'm amazed. Nothing seems to be sacred anymore in this age of information. Many believe the government and private sector are encroaching on the privacy of others an inch at a time. Whoever knew that Big Brother had a little brother waiting in the wings.
Photo Source: Gadgetell.com
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