Facebook Agent: A Frontal Attack on Privacy

By Rachel Stockton

One of the most appealing aspects of Facebook, the social networking site, is the fact that potential “friends” must ask permission to be able to have access to your private profile. 

However, a new software program called “Facebook Agent” may allow would-be buddies to override a person’s decision to leave certain information private, such as a profile. 

To some, the idea that Facebook has ever provided security and protection of privacy is delusional.  Cindy T., a reluctant Facebook user whose sole purpose for logging on is to keep track of what her kids are doing, says she’s amazed (and at times, appalled) at the “private” information people share with others who have access to their “wall.” 

“There are some people who don’t seem to realize they are sharing way too much information on their wall; whatever happened to having a modicum of discretion when it comes to personal details?”

To an extent, Cindy’s right.  Most people have a plethora of so-called “friends” who have access not only to their profile, but are also privy to “private” conversations that show up on their wall.

This particular generation, it seems, have no qualms about lowering certain boundaries that their parents wouldn’t dream of displacing; these kids have grown up with Maury Povich type tell-alls.

However, the thought of sharing a profile should be a little scary to all of us.  There are certainly predators out there, and they can use profiles to their advantage by becoming knowledgeable about certain details, such as where a person lives or works.

To their credit, the Facebook Agent website has a disclaimer, noting that the appropriate protocol before looking at someone else’s profile is to ask for permission.  If that’s truly the case, then why would anyone download Facebook Agent in the first place?