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I don’t think that’s more than a meme. The Stasi collected information you didn’t want to share, and what you put on Facebook willingly is typically the same so

I don’t think that’s more than a meme. The Stasi collected information you didn’t want to share, and what you put on Facebook willingly is typically the same sort of front you would have put up publicly in the DDR. As in the best version of you. There is some truth to what you’re saying though, but that’s in the data Facebook collects about you, without your knowledge. I think the facial recognition program is a good example. Even if you don’t have a Facebook account, or even if you do but didn’t share any pictures of your vacation, Facebook might still know you went. They know by recognizing you in pictures of other people. If you get caught in someone’s Instagram selfie in an airport or at a popular tourist spot, then Facebook knows you where there. Stasi would have loved that, but that’s not information people share willingly.

westiseast 9y ago
That’s the crux of the issue now with Facebook though - it’s become so pervasive that people don’t even realize what they’re sharing: * It follows you around the internet via the Share/Like plug-ins so your entire internet browsing patterns become exposed * Via the psychological analytics they’ve been applying, you think you’ve just liked (eg) a sports personality page and a TV show, but that’s actually confirmed a whole host of implied personality traits that are then ‘known’ about you.
buro9 9y ago
> The Stasi collected information you didn’t want to share, and what you put on Facebook willingly I am not on Facebook though I once had a profile a decade ago. I don't believe that profile has been deleted, I do believe that facial recognition on the photos has included me, I do believe that they've applied said facial recognition to the historical data, and so I believe that I do have a profile that is alive and well within Facebook, and that even receives fresh content... it is just not public. I am so looking forward to the GDPR coming into effect.
blub 9y ago
Such a security apparatus would collect any and all information it can get its hands on, and then use it whenever it needs it. For instance to protect the state, to protect itself, to influence and manipulate situations to its advantage and to the advantage of those in power, to destroy opponents and of course for fun and profit. A contemporary Stasi would control Facebook and use all algorithms and all available data sources to figure out who the persons of interest are. Even assuming that the StasiBook app wouldn't auto-upload all pictures and microphone data (why would an upstanding citizen turn off their mic?), they could still correlate many invisible patterns. So all in all, I think they'd be the biggest fans.

westiseast 9y ago

That’s the crux of the issue now with Facebook though - it’s become so pervasive that people don’t even realize what they’re sharing: * It follows you around the internet via the Share/Like plug-ins so your entire internet browsing patterns become exposed * Via the psychological analytics they’ve been applying, you think you’ve just liked (eg) a sports personality page and a TV show, but that’s actually confirmed a whole host of implied personality traits that are then ‘known’ about you.

buro9 9y ago

> The Stasi collected information you didn’t want to share, and what you put on Facebook willingly I am not on Facebook though I once had a profile a decade ago. I don't believe that profile has been deleted, I do believe that facial recognition on the photos has included me, I do believe that they've applied said facial recognition to the historical data, and so I believe that I do have a profile that is alive and well within Facebook, and that even receives fresh content... it is just not public. I am so looking forward to the GDPR coming into effect.

blub 9y ago

Such a security apparatus would collect any and all information it can get its hands on, and then use it whenever it needs it. For instance to protect the state, to protect itself, to influence and manipulate situations to its advantage and to the advantage of those in power, to destroy opponents and of course for fun and profit. A contemporary Stasi would control Facebook and use all algorithms and all available data sources to figure out who the persons of interest are. Even assuming that the StasiBook app wouldn't auto-upload all pictures and microphone data (why would an upstanding citizen turn off their mic?), they could still correlate many invisible patterns. So all in all, I think they'd be the biggest fans.