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Following user alerts reported by the press concerning the dissemination of certain messages on Facebook accounts of French users prior to 2009, the National Commission for Computing and Liberties ( Cnil ) issued its conclusions on October 2, 2012 .
According to the CNIL’s analysis, the problematic messages seemed to be limited to “wall-to-wall” messages and not to messages sent via Facebook’s private messaging system. However, the CNIL acknowledged that some of the content revealed in these messages seemed unmistakably private, users having the impression of sending private messages using “wall-to-wall” messaging. Several factors have contributed to this, including changes to Facebook’s interface, unilateral changes to data privacy settings between 2009 and 2010, and the recent introduction of the “timeline” feature that displays activity and account posts year by year.
According to the CNIL, this incident underlines the importance for social networks to adhere to its recommendations, as well as those of the G29 (a group of European data protection authorities). Key recommendations include:
- Increased transparency to users regarding the use of their personal data.
- Provision of tools allowing users to better control their data and the information they publish.
- Obtain the explicit consent of users for the transmission of their data to third parties or for the activation of new functionalities.
- Implement privacy-protecting default settings, especially when social networks unilaterally change their privacy policies.
The CNIL’s responsibility is to ensure that information technology is at the service of citizens without undermining human identity, human rights, privacy, individual freedoms or the public interest. These guidelines seek to strike a balance between protecting user privacy and enabling the benefits of social media platforms.
Facebook Privacy and Messaging Issues:-
Following user alerts and the investigation by the Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL), concerns about privacy and Facebook messaging have emerged. The CNIL’s conclusions shed light on the nature of problematic messages and the perception of users’ privacy within “wall-to-wall” messaging.
Recommendations for social networks and data protection:-
In response to the Facebook messaging incident, the CNIL stressed the importance of implementing recommended practices in terms of social networks and data protection. The commission highlighted key areas such as transparency, user control over personal data, explicit consent for data sharing and privacy-protecting default settings. These recommendations seek to strike a balance between user privacy and the changing landscape of social media platforms .
