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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Facebook founder apology over ads | Facebook founder apology over ads |
| (about 23 hours later) | |
| The founder of social networking site Facebook Mark Zuckerberg has apologised to users for the way it launched a social advertising system. | The founder of social networking site Facebook Mark Zuckerberg has apologised to users for the way it launched a social advertising system. |
| Called Beacon, the system tracks web shopping on partner sites outside Facebook and then sells adverts to the social network based on purchases. | Called Beacon, the system tracks web shopping on partner sites outside Facebook and then sells adverts to the social network based on purchases. |
| After complaints the site was invading privacy, Facebook changed Beacon from an opt-out system to opt in. | After complaints the site was invading privacy, Facebook changed Beacon from an opt-out system to opt in. |
| Mr Zuckerberg has said users can now switch off Beacon completely. | Mr Zuckerberg has said users can now switch off Beacon completely. |
| Meanwhile, the UK's National Consumer Council (NCC) has warned that children need to be better protected from "opaque commercial practices" on some of the most popular websites. | Meanwhile, the UK's National Consumer Council (NCC) has warned that children need to be better protected from "opaque commercial practices" on some of the most popular websites. |
| The council has said children are being exposed to advertising on websites that they would not see around their favourite TV programmes because of strict regulation. | The council has said children are being exposed to advertising on websites that they would not see around their favourite TV programmes because of strict regulation. |
| A quarter of adverts on children's best-loved sites are aimed at adults - such as gambling and dating services, the NCC found. | A quarter of adverts on children's best-loved sites are aimed at adults - such as gambling and dating services, the NCC found. |
| "Parents should be aware that the internet is highly commercial. Every hour that a child spends in front of the computer is like letting them run loose in a shopping centre," said Ed Mayo, chief executive of the NCC. | "Parents should be aware that the internet is highly commercial. Every hour that a child spends in front of the computer is like letting them run loose in a shopping centre," said Ed Mayo, chief executive of the NCC. |
| Facebook is one of the most popular social networks in the world, and has more than 50 million members. | |
| In a statement posted on the Facebook blog, Mr Zuckerberg said: "We've made a lot of mistakes building this feature, but we've made even more with how we've handled them. | In a statement posted on the Facebook blog, Mr Zuckerberg said: "We've made a lot of mistakes building this feature, but we've made even more with how we've handled them. |
| "We simply did a bad job with this release, and I apologise for it." | "We simply did a bad job with this release, and I apologise for it." |
| He added: "I'm not proud of the way we've handled this situation and I know we can do better." | He added: "I'm not proud of the way we've handled this situation and I know we can do better." |
| More than 50,000 Facebook users signed a petition complaining about Beacon. Initially, Facebook said it would not offer users a universal opt-out from Beacon. | More than 50,000 Facebook users signed a petition complaining about Beacon. Initially, Facebook said it would not offer users a universal opt-out from Beacon. |
| Concerted pressure | Concerted pressure |
| The company relented after concerted pressure from privacy advocates and leading technology writers in the blogosphere. | The company relented after concerted pressure from privacy advocates and leading technology writers in the blogosphere. |
| But some writers have questioned whether the switch-off option goes far enough. | But some writers have questioned whether the switch-off option goes far enough. |
| Om Malik has questioned if turning off Beacon merely prevents advertisers and Facebook "storing" purchase information. | Om Malik has questioned if turning off Beacon merely prevents advertisers and Facebook "storing" purchase information. |
| If so, he wrote on his website, information from purchases could still be swapped in real time. | If so, he wrote on his website, information from purchases could still be swapped in real time. |
| The controversy shows that consumers want to be in control of how their information is to be used Nate Elliott, Jupiter Research | The controversy shows that consumers want to be in control of how their information is to be used Nate Elliott, Jupiter Research |
| The Facebook apology highlights a growing debate surrounding privacy and advertising in the online space. | The Facebook apology highlights a growing debate surrounding privacy and advertising in the online space. |
| Many privacy advocates are concerned about the use of "web beacons" to monitor the surfing habits of users and to what use that information is put by websites and advertisers. | Many privacy advocates are concerned about the use of "web beacons" to monitor the surfing habits of users and to what use that information is put by websites and advertisers. |
| Facebook's system raised concern with some users because it meant friends could see which websites and which products they were buying online. | Facebook's system raised concern with some users because it meant friends could see which websites and which products they were buying online. |
| The adverts were presented as personal recommendations to users because people in their friends' list were, in effect, endorsing brands and products by purchasing items. | The adverts were presented as personal recommendations to users because people in their friends' list were, in effect, endorsing brands and products by purchasing items. |
| More than 40 companies, including Coca Cola, Blockbuster and Sony Pictures, signed up to Beacon when launched. | More than 40 companies, including Coca Cola, Blockbuster and Sony Pictures, signed up to Beacon when launched. |
| Nate Elliott, a senior analyst at Jupiter Research, said Facebook had "taken things too far". | Nate Elliott, a senior analyst at Jupiter Research, said Facebook had "taken things too far". |
| "The controversy shows that consumers want to be in control of how their information is to be used. These are people who are clearly comfortable about putting a lot of personal information online but they want to be in control of who they share this with." | "The controversy shows that consumers want to be in control of how their information is to be used. These are people who are clearly comfortable about putting a lot of personal information online but they want to be in control of who they share this with." |
| He added: "Facebook has taken too much of the control away from users." | He added: "Facebook has taken too much of the control away from users." |
| Mr Elliott said Facebook could still salvage something from Beacon. | Mr Elliott said Facebook could still salvage something from Beacon. |
| "There's a pretty good chance there is something interesting here still for advertisers. This has caused a tremendous stir but users still have to opt out. | "There's a pretty good chance there is something interesting here still for advertisers. This has caused a tremendous stir but users still have to opt out. |
| "You are not going to see many people opting out, either because they don't know or don't care about the issue." | "You are not going to see many people opting out, either because they don't know or don't care about the issue." |
| He added: "Other social networks will have been paying very clear attention to this and learning some lessons." | He added: "Other social networks will have been paying very clear attention to this and learning some lessons." |