Facebook, FTC deal emphasizes privacy

Guynn, J. (2011, November 13). Facebook, FTC deal emphasizes privacy. The Anchorage Daily News, p. A8.

In this article Facebook could announce a deal with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sometime this month on privacy. The FTC is letting internet companies know that regulators are planning on protecting the privacy of users. The public is concerned with the lack of privacy that is currently offered with the use of the internet. The FTC is particularly concerned with the companies that collect personal information and what these companies are doing with this information. According to the CEOs' from Silicon Valley and all over the world the message is being received clearly. Lawmakers agree that online privacy has been an issue for sometime now. That legal issues dealing with privacy in the past was handled  by anonymous lawyers. However, because of the volume and speed of data that is being sent globally, online privacy has now become a public issue and global privacy law firms are forming. The FTC will be seeking a "do not track" system according to Guynn which will make it easier for the consumer to keep companies from snooping on their activities. There have been a dozen privacy bill introduced to congress so far this year. This settlement with Facebook would prohibit Facebook from making public information that is was shared privately without the consumers permission. Facebook will have to agree to this for 20 years. This is only the beginning, because of the speed of technology I don't see them keeping up with those who want your information will find a way to get it. How much privacy do we really have, because we all know "Big Brother" is always watching!