TECHCRUNCH
JASON KINCAID
10 APRIL 08
The Facebook Beacon controversy may not be making headlines any more, but the privacy concerns it raised still linger. According to this post
about MyDataIsMyData, an upcoming privacy-monitoring service sponsored by classifieds site Flugpo
, Beacon may still monitor traffic and personal data, even if a user has opted-out of the system. In response, MyDataIsMyData is creating a plugin for Internet Explorer that enables users to eliminate any traces of Beacon from their system.
Facebook Beacon tracks usage information by monitoring cookies on a client’s computer. As users browse various participating websites, such as Blockbuster and eBay, their activities are relayed back to Facebook, where it can be shared with friends. Many users find such notifications to be intrusive, and much of the original controversy stemmed from the automatic inclusion of all users in the system.
