Facebook Nevermore?

Today is Guy Fawkes Day, once known in England as Gunpowder Treason Day, and the day that Anonymous vowed to destroy Facebook.  I have no idea if the hacktivist group will accomplish that goal or if 'Operation Facebook' is even real (some claim it is a big Internet hoax). You can see one of the threatening videos purportedly from Anonymous discussing Facebook here. But the reports surrounding Facebook would seem to justify a backlash, like this one about Facebook creating fake people to track and manipulate its real users (thanks to -J.):

Eight hundred million users are not enough. Facebook, the world's biggest social network, is now building profiles of non-users who haven't even signed up, an international privacy watchdog charges.

The sensational claim is made in a complaint filed in August by Ireland’s Data Protection Commissioner. It alleges that users are encouraged to hand over the personal data of other people -- including names, phone numbers, email addresses and more -- which Facebook is using to create "extensive profiles" of non-users.

Facebook categorically denies the allegation, but experts tell FoxNews.com that it could well be true.

“There can be little doubt that Facebook collects from its current users information about individuals who are not currently Facebook users, and collects from its current users information about other Facebook users,” said Kelly Kubasta, who heads the Dallas law firm Klemchuk Kubasta’s social media division.

Ciara O'Sullivan, a spokeswoman for Ireland's Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, told FoxNews.com that its audit of Facebook Ireland's privacy policies was part of a "statutory investigation" that the office anticipates will lead to immediate changes.

"The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner will be commencing a comprehensive audit of Facebook Ireland before the end of the month," O’Sullivan said.

But Facebook flat-out denies that it is creating "shadow profiles" and tracking users and non-users alike.

For my earlier posts on WikiLeaks, Anonymous and Guy Fawkes imagery taken from Alan Moore's ground-breaking DC comics series, V for Vendetta, go here, here and here.


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