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Another fun one. Go into Facebook and download your data and look in the ads folder. There's a very helpful "advertisers_who_uploaded_a_contact_list_with_your_i

by MertsA 6y ago

Another fun one. Go into Facebook and download your data and look in the ads folder. There's a very helpful "advertisers_who_uploaded_a_contact_list_with_your_information.html" page that lists every advertiser who somehow obtained your contact data and ran targeted ads to you. There's a lot of sketchy companies out there who I never had any kind of relationship with who somehow managed to obtain email or other contact data. Bit of an enlightening experience as to just how widespread your personal data is being shared, even if you're somewhat careful of who you give your personal data to.

singron 6y ago
The facebook dump also includes email addresses and phone numbers that you have deleted from your account. After I removed my contact information from my account, I was curious why advertisers were still able to target my account with these uploaded lists, so I guess that explains it.
- Closi 6y ago
  Well that clearly sounds like it's not GDPR compliant, but Facebook might have a different policy for the EU.
  - lmkg 6y ago
    Facebook is currently involved in multiple legal battles in Europe about the GDPR, including at least one where it's the instigator. Facebook has different views about what's allowed under the GDPR compared to the people in charge of enforcing the GDPR.
dalbasal 6y ago
Good info. Any organized efforts to export and donate data? Data is not data in some important senses unless it's aggregated. A "watch-them-watch-us" dynamic can't exist if one side is aggregated and the other isn't.
- pletsch 6y ago
  Mind linking a project if you find it? Currently working on a tool that needs text conversations for data training and would be happy to donate if we can use the data as well.
fsflover 6y ago
See also: https://www.facebook.com/off_facebook_activity/ https://www.facebook.com/off_facebook_activity/.
- nimajneb 6y ago
  Apparently I'm doing something right because mine is empty. "You have no available activity to show at this time." Maybe because I've never had a habit of linking phone apps, web apps, etc to Facebook. I tend to keep different accounts completely isolated. Which is why Google really bugs me, I don't like that my YouTube, Gmail, etc are all the same account.
  - fsflover 6y ago
    > Which is why Google really bugs me You could probably try Firefox containers for that.
    - 411111111111111 6y ago
      Multiple Google accounts is against ToS though afaik
      - pmiller2 6y ago
        Where in the ToS is it prohibited?
        411111111111111 6y ago
        you're absolutely correct. its only against the tos to create another account if any of yours have been banned. Having multiple accounts is allowed for work/private purposes. > Many people have more than one Google Account, like a personal account and a work account. Uses like that are fine.
        webmaven 6y ago
mtnGoat 6y ago
I've been watching that list for years. Oddly, a LOT of car lots are always on there. Someone must be making a killing selling them low quality leads.
tasubotadas 6y ago
Please add link
lkbm 6y ago
You can also find this without having to wait on the export: https://www.facebook.com/adpreferences/?section=audience_based_advertising&entry_product=information_about_you https://www.facebook.com/adpreferences/?section=audience_bas... You can browse all the various data here: https://www.facebook.com/your_information/ https://www.facebook.com/your_information/ This is the download page: https://www.facebook.com/dyi/ https://www.facebook.com/dyi/
- mdoms 6y ago
  That first link isn't the same thing as what GP is saying, at all. That's just a list of advertisers for whom you have been caught in their advertising dragnet (eg you're in one of their targeted demographics).
solumos 6y ago
Not only that - Facebook allows you to create "lookalike" audiences from e-mail lists. So as a marketer, if you can get your hands on a good e-mail list, you're golden.

by MertsA 6y ago

singron 6y ago

The facebook dump also includes email addresses and phone numbers that you have deleted from your account. After I removed my contact information from my account, I was curious why advertisers were still able to target my account with these uploaded lists, so I guess that explains it.

Closi 6y ago
Well that clearly sounds like it's not GDPR compliant, but Facebook might have a different policy for the EU.
- lmkg 6y ago
  Facebook is currently involved in multiple legal battles in Europe about the GDPR, including at least one where it's the instigator. Facebook has different views about what's allowed under the GDPR compared to the people in charge of enforcing the GDPR.

dalbasal 6y ago

Good info. Any organized efforts to export and donate data? Data is not data in some important senses unless it's aggregated. A "watch-them-watch-us" dynamic can't exist if one side is aggregated and the other isn't.

pletsch 6y ago
Mind linking a project if you find it? Currently working on a tool that needs text conversations for data training and would be happy to donate if we can use the data as well.

fsflover 6y ago

See also: https://www.facebook.com/off_facebook_activity/ https://www.facebook.com/off_facebook_activity/.

nimajneb 6y ago
Apparently I'm doing something right because mine is empty. "You have no available activity to show at this time." Maybe because I've never had a habit of linking phone apps, web apps, etc to Facebook. I tend to keep different accounts completely isolated. Which is why Google really bugs me, I don't like that my YouTube, Gmail, etc are all the same account.
- fsflover 6y ago
  > Which is why Google really bugs me You could probably try Firefox containers for that.
  - 411111111111111 6y ago
    Multiple Google accounts is against ToS though afaik
    - pmiller2 6y ago
      Where in the ToS is it prohibited?
      - 411111111111111 6y ago
        you're absolutely correct. its only against the tos to create another account if any of yours have been banned. Having multiple accounts is allowed for work/private purposes. > Many people have more than one Google Account, like a personal account and a work account. Uses like that are fine.
        webmaven 6y ago

mtnGoat 6y ago

I've been watching that list for years. Oddly, a LOT of car lots are always on there. Someone must be making a killing selling them low quality leads.

tasubotadas 6y ago

Please add link

lkbm 6y ago

You can also find this without having to wait on the export: https://www.facebook.com/adpreferences/?section=audience_based_advertising&entry_product=information_about_you https://www.facebook.com/adpreferences/?section=audience_bas... You can browse all the various data here: https://www.facebook.com/your_information/ https://www.facebook.com/your_information/ This is the download page: https://www.facebook.com/dyi/ https://www.facebook.com/dyi/

mdoms 6y ago
That first link isn't the same thing as what GP is saying, at all. That's just a list of advertisers for whom you have been caught in their advertising dragnet (eg you're in one of their targeted demographics).

solumos 6y ago

Not only that - Facebook allows you to create "lookalike" audiences from e-mail lists. So as a marketer, if you can get your hands on a good e-mail list, you're golden.