2 ms·

> The site "Likes" things on peoples behalf just because they talk about it (even negatively!) with others. It occasionally automatically "friends" people becau

> The site "Likes" things on peoples behalf just because they talk about it (even negatively!) with others. It occasionally automatically "friends" people because you looked at their profile and mutual friends in common. It constantly takes liberties with people's relationships, friends, and preferences, without asking. The mobile app turns on the damn mic to listen to ambient noise in the background so it can try learn what you're listening to or watching on TV! If you don't mind, do you have any sources for this? (Not talking about the mic thing, but the automatic liking and befriending)

untog 12y ago
Yeah, I know of Beacon etc. but I've never heard of automatic likes or friendships.
spinchange 12y ago
Here's a link about harvesting likes from private messages: http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2012/10/03/how-private-are-your-private-messages/ http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2012/10/03/how-private-are-your-... and subsequently a class action suit was brought against them over it: https://gigaom.com/2014/01/02/facebook-reads-private-messages-to-boost-likes-lawsuit-claims/ https://gigaom.com/2014/01/02/facebook-reads-private-message... another suit brought over false likes: https://gigaom.com/2014/01/10/facebook-hit-with-lawsuit-over-like-ads-user-says-he-never-liked-usa-today/ https://gigaom.com/2014/01/10/facebook-hit-with-lawsuit-over... facebook recycling "likes" under guise of promoting "related stories" users didn't endorse: http://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonykosner/2013/01/21/facebook-is-recycling-your-likes-to-promote-stories-youve-never-seen-to-all-your-friends/ http://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonykosner/2013/01/21/faceboo... The autofriending thing is less publicized and I don't think they've ever been sued over it, so it probably hasn't been in the headlines. If you search Facebook's /help/community/ pages, you'll find a lot of users reporting it. It's happened to me. It's happened to my wife. I've had friends tell me similar stories. In every case, it seems like something algorithmic, like Facebook thinks the person is someone you should be friends with because of mutual connections or something like that. It isn't a spammy thing as much as it is...creepy, like you, as a user, don't have your own agency. It's weird and off putting to see an accepted friend request you didn't make, from someone you expressly don't want to have any contact whatsoever with, let alone be "friends."

untog 12y ago

Yeah, I know of Beacon etc. but I've never heard of automatic likes or friendships.

spinchange 12y ago

Here's a link about harvesting likes from private messages: http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2012/10/03/how-private-are-your-private-messages/ http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2012/10/03/how-private-are-your-... and subsequently a class action suit was brought against them over it: https://gigaom.com/2014/01/02/facebook-reads-private-messages-to-boost-likes-lawsuit-claims/ https://gigaom.com/2014/01/02/facebook-reads-private-message... another suit brought over false likes: https://gigaom.com/2014/01/10/facebook-hit-with-lawsuit-over-like-ads-user-says-he-never-liked-usa-today/ https://gigaom.com/2014/01/10/facebook-hit-with-lawsuit-over... facebook recycling "likes" under guise of promoting "related stories" users didn't endorse: http://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonykosner/2013/01/21/facebook-is-recycling-your-likes-to-promote-stories-youve-never-seen-to-all-your-friends/ http://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonykosner/2013/01/21/faceboo... The autofriending thing is less publicized and I don't think they've ever been sued over it, so it probably hasn't been in the headlines. If you search Facebook's /help/community/ pages, you'll find a lot of users reporting it. It's happened to me. It's happened to my wife. I've had friends tell me similar stories. In every case, it seems like something algorithmic, like Facebook thinks the person is someone you should be friends with because of mutual connections or something like that. It isn't a spammy thing as much as it is...creepy, like you, as a user, don't have your own agency. It's weird and off putting to see an accepted friend request you didn't make, from someone you expressly don't want to have any contact whatsoever with, let alone be "friends."