Facebook Privacy Case Study

The aforementioned Facebook privacy cases deal with breaches to users’ private information, which those users disclosed on Facebook for the purpose of sharing with their friends and other users. Since Facebook provides various privacy controls, which allow users to customize the way their posted information is shared with others, users can expect Facebook to keep sensitive information protected from unwanted access and potential harm. However, as evidenced from the vast array of court cases and the conclusions of the courts, users’ expectations of privacy control have been shattered. In the discussion, cases where users complained against Facebook pinned the SNS in the defendant’s chair. While each case involved privacy issues, some specifically …show more content…
For branding purposes, Facebook allegedly utilized users’ names and likes. The plaintiffs argued that their posted information was used for commercial purposes. While this may have been true, the courts found that the plaintiffs did not provide enough evidence to prove any violation took place. The case may have been closed, and the plaintiffs’ complaint dismissed accordingly, but the issue of users’ information being used for advertising and commercial gain still lingers. There may be no real harm to the users and their sensitive information. Also, Facebook merely uses the information that was voluntarily provided by the users for enjoyment of the SNS’s features. However, these kinds of cases reveal users’ concerns for how Facebook takes advantage of their information. Of course, had those users’ never signed up for the site, Facebook could not have made any gains from those users’ information. One solution could be to inform users that their information may be used for advertising without causing harm; another solution, which seems less practical, yet presumably more favorable, especially since users take it to court, could involve providing users with compensation. Consent could even apply to this situation. Simply asking users for consent might alleviate the issue. When advertising involves actually reading users’ inbox messages, the plaintiffs seemingly have a stronger argument against Facebook. Whereas using voluntarily provided information, such as names and likes, may present little or no harm, disclosure of private messages certainly affects users drastically. The purpose of messages are for users to be able to privately communicate with others. Not only do users have an issue with their information being used for commercial reasons, they also are obviously upset