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> A Facebook spokesperson claimed in a statement that “there was nothing ‘secret’ about this”, yet it had threatened legal action if users publicly discussed th

> A Facebook spokesperson claimed in a statement that “there was nothing ‘secret’ about this”, yet it had threatened legal action if users publicly discussed the Research program. Will wonders never cease?

bredren 8y ago
The cavalier attitude says to me that this company is still a start up at heart. Early-stage companies often break a lot of rules that’s how you get big. Facebook is just still doing it.
- skrebbel 8y ago
  This "it's ok to act immorally and illegally when you're a startup" attitude has to die in a fire.
  - dannyr 8y ago
    Problem is governments never really acted aside from the US congressional hearings. While this is happening, Facebook's profits are up. There's really nothing compelling Zuck and Facebook to act morally and legally.
    - zaarn 8y ago
      The EU had a hearing as well. The UK had one after that and Zucc didn't show. I guess the other EU members are satisfied to know that FB doesn't give enough of a shit to actually show up when asked to show up.
  - scarejunba 8y ago
    It's not immoral or illegal. It's just "will convict in the court of public opinion". And as a startup you should ignore that.
    - deleted 8y ago
      [deleted]
  - Mirioron 8y ago
    Governments need to stop trying to regulate everything so hard it stifles business then. Without Uber taxis would be even worse than they are today.
    - NeedMoreTea 8y ago
      In the USA perhaps. Some of the other countries they operate in had and have taxis, and food delivery, that work just fine. All Uber has done is introduce unreliable, heavily subsidised - and therefore unfair - competition. It's the Walmart model: Make a loss until the others go under thanks to deepest pockets. When none remain, raise prices markedly.
      - jfk13 8y ago
        Ah, so that's what it's called. I thought that was the Amazon model.
      - icebraining 8y ago
        Not just in the US; I live in Europe and fully welcomed Uber's arrival. And as I expected, after they opened the market many more competitors came, so I don't even have to keep using them. In a moment they'll go under due to their unsustainable model, leaving more decent companies in charge.
        NeedMoreTea 8y ago
        Oh I'm sure there's plenty of places where they've helped. I think you're right about the future though - unlike a Walmart I see precious little lock-in for Uber.
- ancorevard 8y ago
  Please don't attribute Facebook's lack of values to all other startups, that's a gross generalization. A company's values reflects the values of its people, especially the founding people. Facebook's immoral behavior can be traced all the way back to its start and ultimately its maker. Privacy is not a principle Facebook is willing to act on.
  - bredren 8y ago
    I didn’t say anything about values.
- rchaud 8y ago
  The attitude says to me "We've lied or misled the public so often, they're not even going to try to pin us down on this tiny one".
deogeo 8y ago
NDA's are ripe for abuse, and should be severely limited by law.

bredren 8y ago

The cavalier attitude says to me that this company is still a start up at heart. Early-stage companies often break a lot of rules that’s how you get big. Facebook is just still doing it.

skrebbel 8y ago
This "it's ok to act immorally and illegally when you're a startup" attitude has to die in a fire.
- dannyr 8y ago
  Problem is governments never really acted aside from the US congressional hearings. While this is happening, Facebook's profits are up. There's really nothing compelling Zuck and Facebook to act morally and legally.
  - zaarn 8y ago
    The EU had a hearing as well. The UK had one after that and Zucc didn't show. I guess the other EU members are satisfied to know that FB doesn't give enough of a shit to actually show up when asked to show up.
- scarejunba 8y ago
  It's not immoral or illegal. It's just "will convict in the court of public opinion". And as a startup you should ignore that.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
- Mirioron 8y ago
  Governments need to stop trying to regulate everything so hard it stifles business then. Without Uber taxis would be even worse than they are today.
  - NeedMoreTea 8y ago
    In the USA perhaps. Some of the other countries they operate in had and have taxis, and food delivery, that work just fine. All Uber has done is introduce unreliable, heavily subsidised - and therefore unfair - competition. It's the Walmart model: Make a loss until the others go under thanks to deepest pockets. When none remain, raise prices markedly.
    - jfk13 8y ago
      Ah, so that's what it's called. I thought that was the Amazon model.
    - icebraining 8y ago
      Not just in the US; I live in Europe and fully welcomed Uber's arrival. And as I expected, after they opened the market many more competitors came, so I don't even have to keep using them. In a moment they'll go under due to their unsustainable model, leaving more decent companies in charge.
      - NeedMoreTea 8y ago
        Oh I'm sure there's plenty of places where they've helped. I think you're right about the future though - unlike a Walmart I see precious little lock-in for Uber.
ancorevard 8y ago
Please don't attribute Facebook's lack of values to all other startups, that's a gross generalization. A company's values reflects the values of its people, especially the founding people. Facebook's immoral behavior can be traced all the way back to its start and ultimately its maker. Privacy is not a principle Facebook is willing to act on.
- bredren 8y ago
  I didn’t say anything about values.
rchaud 8y ago
The attitude says to me "We've lied or misled the public so often, they're not even going to try to pin us down on this tiny one".

deogeo 8y ago

NDA's are ripe for abuse, and should be severely limited by law.