Facebook Addresses Home Privacy Concerns
I believe it is pretty safe to say that one of the most often overlooked aspects to new devices/software/services etc, by consumers is privacy and security. When perhaps that should be the first to second thing we ask about before we get distracted by shiny things that beep. Especially in an era where multi-billion dollar companies exist whose sole business model is to offer high quality, free services in exchange for information, specifically, your information.
Some users have recently voiced their concerns about privacy in Facebook Home, and Facebook is trying to quell those concerns. The main issue being the way Facebook Home works as a home launcher in which users will launch all of their apps through the Facebook Home service allowing Facebook a much deeper look into the users’ habits and location data. Collecting potentially far more data than a standalone Facebook app allows.
Facebook has written a response in a blog post that states “Home collects information when you interact with the service” and it “ doesn’t use location in any way that’s different from the Facebook app you already have on your Android phone.” If that’s enough to calm you concerns, you may not want to read further.
While Facebook Home may not collect location data any differently than the regular Facebook app it certainly has plenty more opportunities to collect data as it “collects information when you interact with the service”. A service that is your home screen and lock screen through which all apps are launched, so it collects data only when you do something, unless I’m missing something.
Facebook did state that you can turn of location services on Home and you can use Home without the lock screen cover feed, and uninstall Home completely even if it preinstalled on your device. Which puts some of the choice into the users hands as to what they want to share. We will have to wait a bit to see how this all develops but it doesn’t change the fact that ultimately it should be the users choice of what they are comfortable with or not.
Knowing is half the battle.