As the Federal Trade Commission looks in to Facebook's interactions with the now widely known company Cambridge Analytica people across the U.S. and the globe are waking up to a startling revelation ...
Facebook has a ton of data about you.
Wait. That isn't news to you? Good!
Here is that story in case you are interested:
https://www.cnet.com/news/ftc-confirms-its-investigating-facebook/
Here is the next startling revelation ... ready?
Every company out there wants your data too. The only difference is Facebook got caught with its hand in the cookie jar and the company it was in business with, Cambridge Analytica, is engaged in some very dirty business. Setting up politicians so it appears they had sexual relations with Ukranian escorts. According to their CEO on video it doesn't matter if the person actually engaged in the behavior it just has to appear that way. Great business you have there, but, hey, so long as your kids get to go to expensive private schools who cares if you help destroy democracy.
Apple is reportedly interested in seeing Facebook put under the microscope for this.
Of course they are. Facebook eats Apple's lunch on personal data. Apple might gain more marketing dollars if Facebook loses out. It's a gold rush to get your data and all of the technology companies, and retailers, want in.
Where Facebook has really done is overstepping on what they gather without proper notification. Android users woke up to a shock over this when they found Facebook was gathering their phone conversations.
I have been predicting we will see a general pullback in technology due to security concerns. Privacy concern are trumping that. Regulations are next.
Is it time we the people gained a measure of control over the technology that has become central to our lives?
Giving out your personal information is a trade-off You give something of value and receive something of value in return. I have a rewards card or my favorite supermarket. No worries. However when the data gathering is unclear or used in ways you don't agree with and without your consent you should be concerned.
Happy Reading.
J.W. Gant
**UPDATE**
I have several articles to add to this. First up is news the U.S. immigration force, rounding up illegal entrants, is using Facebook data to track, locate, and presumably remove folks:
http://fortune.com/2018/03/27/facebook-data-ice-immigrants-deport/
Can the consumer gain from this fiasco? Yes according to one analyst and I agree. This is an important moment, a wake-up call, to folks who haven't followed what is happening to them digitally. Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/27/facebook-data-scandal-should-be-a-wake-up-call-about-online-footprint.html
When an issue enters the public awareness to a level it is parodied in TV comedies you know it is a problem. Facebook is spelled in Russian during the new opening for Season 5 of the hit HBO comedy 'Silicon Valley'. A reference to Russian trolls using Facebook data to attack the 2016 elections. See it and read more here: https://www.theverge.com/tldr/2018/3/26/17164094/silicon-valley-season-5-opening-credits-facebook-easter-egg-russian-cyrillic-letters-fake-news
More bad news for Facebook on the front page of Bloomberg's marketing pages: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2018-03-27/ad-scammers-need-suckers-and-facebook-helps-find-them
What Facebook's troubles mean to marketers, that's you right? Read on:
https://econsultancy.com/blog/69902-facebook-is-in-real-trouble-what-it-could-mean-for-marketers/
I'll add more if I find worthy entries in this ongoing story. I think we are about to see some technologies become treated as equivalent to utilities such as electricity, running water, and phone service. How that changes the game is easy to see. A vacuum will be created and other companies, such as Apple, will rush to fill it with their services.
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