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Cambridge Analytica got their data by obtaining consent from users to install their app on the FB platform, claiming that it was for academic use. The differenc

Cambridge Analytica got their data by obtaining consent from users to install their app on the FB platform, claiming that it was for academic use. The difference here is that this group is using a browser extension, but in both cases the methodology is to collect data from Facebook’s API on behalf of the user. Facebook also goes after other browser extensions that scrape data, not just researchers: https://www.zdnet.com/article/facebook-sues-two-chrome-extension-devs-for-scraping-user-data/ https://www.zdnet.com/article/facebook-sues-two-chrome-exten...

trhway 5y ago
> their app on the FB platform ... this group is using a browser extension and that is the gist - is your browser a part of the FB platform or not (the situation of ATT network and the telephone and even just the phone book). FB behaves like it is and like as a result they have control over it. And them getting their way means we ultimately lose very important area of general computing. That has been already happening as unapproved ways of calling web APIs have been met with responses from C&D all the way to criminal prosecution.
- matheusmoreira 5y ago
  > unapproved ways of calling web APIs have been met with responses from C&D all the way to criminal prosecution That's insane. Why even have a web API if I can't make HTTP requests to it? Why do I need "approval" to do what their own javascript does?
  - fshbbdssbbgdd 5y ago
    This is a reasonable question, but if the API is authenticated, you may have made some agreements to get authorization to use it. Criminal prosecution could be overkill, but that’s not what is happening here. It’s kind of like asking “what’s the point of letting me into your warehouse if you didn’t want me to take the compressor that was in there?” but you signed a contract not to take the compressor before they gave you the key to the warehouse.
    - matheusmoreira 5y ago
      It's more like: why can't I send an agent to get what I need from the warehouse instead of going myself? I should be able to create my own user agent for a website if I want. I should be able to replace their web application and non-free javascript with my own software.
      - analognoise 5y ago
        You are totally free to do that. FB is totally free to ban you.. I mean they're a gussied up advertiser, of course if you mess with their "engagement" or bottom line they'll ban you. It's like the "rubber hose crypto breaker" XKCD.
        matheusmoreira 5y ago
        If they ban me, they'd probably be doing me a favor. Actually sending people legal bullshit over this? This is some sort of legally-sanctioned bullying.

trhway 5y ago

> their app on the FB platform ... this group is using a browser extension and that is the gist - is your browser a part of the FB platform or not (the situation of ATT network and the telephone and even just the phone book). FB behaves like it is and like as a result they have control over it. And them getting their way means we ultimately lose very important area of general computing. That has been already happening as unapproved ways of calling web APIs have been met with responses from C&D all the way to criminal prosecution.

matheusmoreira 5y ago
> unapproved ways of calling web APIs have been met with responses from C&D all the way to criminal prosecution That's insane. Why even have a web API if I can't make HTTP requests to it? Why do I need "approval" to do what their own javascript does?
- fshbbdssbbgdd 5y ago
  This is a reasonable question, but if the API is authenticated, you may have made some agreements to get authorization to use it. Criminal prosecution could be overkill, but that’s not what is happening here. It’s kind of like asking “what’s the point of letting me into your warehouse if you didn’t want me to take the compressor that was in there?” but you signed a contract not to take the compressor before they gave you the key to the warehouse.
  - matheusmoreira 5y ago
    It's more like: why can't I send an agent to get what I need from the warehouse instead of going myself? I should be able to create my own user agent for a website if I want. I should be able to replace their web application and non-free javascript with my own software.
    - analognoise 5y ago
      You are totally free to do that. FB is totally free to ban you.. I mean they're a gussied up advertiser, of course if you mess with their "engagement" or bottom line they'll ban you. It's like the "rubber hose crypto breaker" XKCD.
      - matheusmoreira 5y ago
        If they ban me, they'd probably be doing me a favor. Actually sending people legal bullshit over this? This is some sort of legally-sanctioned bullying.