Facebook admits it does track non-users, for their own good

The Register ^ | Apr 17, 2018 | Richard Chirgwin

[upchuck]

Facebook's apology-and-explanation machine grinds on, with The Social Network™ posting detail on one of its most controversial activities – how it tracks people who don't use Facebook.

The company explained that the post is a partial response to questions CEO Mark Zuckerberg was unable to answer during his senate and Congressional hearings.

It's no real surprise that someone using their Facebook Login to sign in to other sites is tracked, but the post by product management director David Baser goes into (a little) detail on other tracking activities – some of which have been known to the outside world for some time, occasionally denied by Facebook, and apparently mysteries only to Zuck.

When non-Facebook sites add a “Like” button (a social plugin, in Baser's terminology), visitors to those sites are tracked: Facebook gets their IP address, browser and OS fingerprint, and visited site.

If that sounds a bit like the datr cookie dating from 2011, you wouldn't be far wrong.

Facebook denied non-user tracking until 2015, at which time it emphasised that it was only gathering non-users' interactions with Facebook users. That explanation didn't satisfy everyone, which was why The Social Network™ was told to quit tracking Belgians who haven't signed on earlier this year.

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

Privacy does not exist today, except among the homeless who are off grid. If you are middle class, you have no expectation of privacy anywhere at any time. Not in your car. Not in your home. Not in your bathroom. Not in your bedroom. Privacy no longer exists. It is just a matter of if somebody wants to use what they have on you or not.

[Deaf Smith]

"from folks who've bought batteries"

Well, back then my phone number prefix was CR4.

[cgbg]

I don’t believe it will work.

F___book can track your IP address...forever...

They also collect data about you (name, address, phone, etc.) from various sources and track, track, track you on any device/phone.

This is not about you.

F___book needs a quick trip into the ash-bin of history.

[PIF]

If there is no cookie to report you are online, what do they use? Do they poll every ISP constantly for IPs on line?

Google while not part of this discussion does exactly the same thing as FB. This is especially true if you use Google’s Android OS on your phone, their Chrome browser or Chrome OS. Further, if you run a site from your PC and have a Google tracker or analyzer installed, you can be tracked.

Both companies track your history, movements and sell your data - that’s just their business model.

Both need “a quick trip into the ash-bin of history”.

[9YearLurker]

All.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

"When non-Facebook sites add a “Like” button...visitors to those sites are tracked: Facebook gets their IP address..."

Wouldn't DHCP take care of that?

I have no concerns of FB doing this because I eschew 'like' buttons when surfing by PC and do not use a 'smart' phone, or any phone with 'net access.

[Rebelbase]

I was paying at an independent sub shop last week and the cashier flipped the tablet around and said “punch in your email”.

A firm “NO” reply yielded a slightly perturbed face.

[Rebelbase]

My son’s google phone tracks location and routinely asks for pictures at places he visits.

[central_va]

If you have time to go on Farcebook™ then you don't have a life.

[Drumbo]

Radioshack had about 5,200 company owned stores in 2014 and due to Internet competition closed about 1,000. (Those numbers do not include independent dealer-owned franchise stores). Radioshack went bankrupt in February 2015, and that led to closing nearly 1,800 more stores. Radioshack then partnered with Sprint, which opened a store within a store in most of the 2,400 remaining locations. That agreement went bust and lawsuits insued and in March of 2017, RadioShack filed for bankruptcy again. Sprint took over between 50 and 200 stores (depending on which report you read) and by then had shrunk to about 1,500 company owned stores. Most of those closed with only (approximately) 28 corporate locations remaining (currently owned by General Wireless Operations, Inc.), who lease the name from Kensington Capital Holdings. In addition to the 2 dozen corporate locations, as of September 2017, RadioShack operated as an online website and the name is still licensed to approximately 425 independently owned authorized dealer stores.

To answer your question about personal info, in the 2015 bankruptcy RadioShack include customers' personally identifying information as part of its assets for sale, despite its long-standing policy and a promise to customers that data would never be sold for any reason at any time. The Federal Trade Commission and the Attorneys General of several states fought against it, but the sale of the data was eventually allowed, however greatly reduced from what was initially proposed (sales histories of customers was likely excluded, but who knows?). Who bought that data and owns it now? Iz a secret.

---

Past independent Radioshack franchise owner

[Larry Lucido]

Well, the joke is on them anyway. The last time I bought batteries at Radio Shack, I believe I brought out the old fake phone number. They can reach me at H&H Bagels or the Off-Track Betting office. Put a sawbuck on Captain Nemo in the third at Belmont.