[Alvin]

How to stop Facebook from sharing your location

Silly Facebook. Always doing things you don't necessarily want it to, without even asking you first. It's so pushy! Well now it's at it again, releasing yet another feature that you never had the opportunity to politely opt out of: location sharing. Want to turn it off?

http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-...your-location/

Facebook is at it again, releasing yet another feature that I never had the opportunity to politely opt out of: location sharing.
When Facebook decided to withdraw efforts from its short-lived check-in service, Places, it quickly implemented a more passive location-sharing feature that doesn't even have a name. It's just there. And it's creepy.
Now, every time you compose a post on a mobile device or desktop computer, you'll see a light-gray location description in the lower left of the status box.
Facebook sneakily grabs your location via GPS or Wi-Fi router, and attaches it to your post, so your friends can enjoy a more in-depth stalking experience.
Do you remember opting in to that? Me neither.
In fact, if you dig through your privacy and account settings, the option to turn off location-sharing isn't available. However, it's pretty easy to turn it off. Here's how:
• Since the location is shown in light gray, it's very easy to miss. Always check the lower left of the status box to see if a location is attached.
• If you're on the Web, simply hover the cursor over the location and click the "X." Your location will no longer be attached, even to future statuses. If you later change your mind, just click the location marker to manually enter your location, but beware: it will be attached again for all future updates (unless you turn it off again).

[68gtoMN]

Another of the plethora of reasons why I will NEVER post my information no FACEBOOK

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by 68gtoMN

Another of the plethora of reasons why I will NEVER post my information no FACEBOOK

[Stuart]

In the news today:

Facebook's FTC Deal: 8 Things To Expect

Federal Trade Commission settlement allows Facebook to maintain some privacy policies, but also mandates key changes. Here's what users should know.

By Mathew J. Schwartz InformationWeek
November 30, 2011 12:25 PM

How will Facebook's privacy and security settings change?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Tuesday a proposed settlement with Facebook. The action stems from allegations that the social network "deceived consumers by telling them they could keep their information on Facebook private, and then repeatedly allowing it to be shared and made public," according to the FTC.

Facebook had labeled some of those privacy changes as its response to consumers who were clamoring for a simpler way to control their privacy settings. But the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) and other consumer-rights group saw it differently and filed complaints with the FTC, which investigated Facebook and hit it with an eight-count indictment.

"Facebook is obligated to keep the promises about privacy that it makes to its hundreds of millions of users," said Jon Leibowitz, the chairman of the FTC, in a statement announcing the settlement. "Facebook's innovation does not have to come at the expense of consumer privacy. The FTC action will ensure it will not."

Here, then, are some security and privacy changes to expect from Facebook in the wake of the settlement:

1. Privacy settings won't revert: Privacy groups, including EPIC, had called on the FTC to "restore users' privacy settings to pre-2009 levels," and then obtain explicit consent from users to change those settings. Instead, Facebook gets to keep its most recent privacy settings, which expose most private information by default, in place.

2. Consumers will opt-in to future changes: Going forward, according to the FTC settlement, Facebook will be "required to obtain consumers' affirmative express consent before enacting changes that override their privacy preferences."

3. Breaking up will be easier: The FTC settlement also requires that Facebook "required prevent anyone from accessing a user's material more than 30 days after the user has deleted his or her account."

4. Little contrition: Commenting on the settlement, "I'm the first to admit that we've made a bunch of mistakes," said Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg in a blog post. But he argued that on balance, Facebook had offered a good balance of "transparency and control over who can see your information," despite a few missteps. "In particular, I think that a small number of high profile mistakes, like Beacon four years ago and poor execution as we transitioned our privacy model two years ago, have often overshadowed much of the good work we've done," he said.

5. Internal processes get more privacy-centric: "The FTC also recommended improvements to our internal processes," said Zuckerberg in his blog post. "We've embraced these ideas, too, by agreeing to improve and formalize the way we do privacy review as part of our ongoing product development process. As part of this, we will establish a biannual independent audit of our privacy practices to ensure we're living up to the commitments we make." That's necessary, since Facebook must submit to third-party audits beginning in 180 days, followed by once every two years, to ensure that its privacy program complies with the FTC settlement requirements.

6. Facebook faces $16,000 fines: The FTC settlement says that Facebook will be hit with a $16,000 fine for every violation. For a company that's valued at about $100 billion, that's pocket change. But multiplying the number of affected users by the violation could result in steep penalties, not to mention bad publicity.

7. Facebook adds privacy executives: Zuckerberg announced that attorney Erin Egan will fill the company's new "chief privacy officer for policy" role, while Facebook's current chief privacy counsel, Michael Richter, will become its "chief privacy officer for products." According to Zuckerberg, Richter and his team "will work to ensure that our principles of user control, privacy by design, and transparency are integrated consistently into both Facebook's product development process and our products themselves," which paraphrases what the FTC settlement requires.

8. Facebook likely won't stumble again: Did the government get a fair deal out of Facebook? Will Facebook learn to not run afoul of the FTC in the future? In response to both questions, it's interesting that the social network now counts former FTC chair Timothy Muris as a lobbyist, while former FTC commissioner Mozelle Thompson is Facebook's "chief privacy adviser," reported Gawker. The implication: One way or another, don't expect Facebook to get caught over future privacy changes.

[Simple Man]

Originally Posted by 68gtoMN

Another of the plethora of reasons why I will NEVER post my information no FACEBOOK

I agree!

[Old Goat 67]

Heck, FACEBOOK bothers me! That's enough.

[Cammer-6]

whats facebook?

[blue goats]

Short attention span theater.
George
My wife and daughter love it.

[wytnyt]

my info wont be shared
i outgrew facebook long before it came into existence

[KeepCalm&CarryOn'The GTO']

Any site can get you location unknowingly as much as they want, I understand the stalker-like experience, and as you get older alot of people look in to Facebook and other social networking websites to rekindle a lost friendship or get in touch with someone you knew from long ago, I, a seventeen year old girl, use facebook not for mindless hours of gaming, I use it to keep up with my friends and believe it or not to keep up with school work. Facebook is not evil, I promise. There is a setting to remove your location from your posts, but all in the same sense you shouldn't want people you don't know reading your posts.

[Dennis H.]

I never have and never will use Facebook! My privacy is more important than sharing every little detail of my life for all to see. I can see more issues with Facebook in the future.

[455Grandville]

I dont have a facebook acct.

Brother is pretty good with computers; he warned me it doesnt take an expert to find out private information.

Originally Posted by KeepCalm&CarryOn'The GTO'

Any site can get you location unknowingly as much as they want, I understand the stalker-like experience, and as you get older alot of people look in to Facebook and other social networking websites to rekindle a lost friendship or get in touch with someone you knew from long ago, I, a seventeen year old girl, use facebook not for mindless hours of gaming, I use it to keep up with my friends and believe it or not to keep up with school work. Facebook is not evil, I promise. There is a setting to remove your location from your posts, but all in the same sense you shouldn't want people you don't know reading your posts.

Amber, even though you remove the information it's still out there on the net. I have a 14 yr old daughter, so my brother & my wife had to "assist" her in setting up the account to keep it as safe as possible.

[1969GTO]

I am not a facebok fan either.
It sure is funny though,watching some of those judge shows and facebook is some times used against some people.
One time some a woman said that she drives carefully and safely,the judge just happen to look on facebook and found the woman bragging how she likes to drive like she is in a NASCAR race........dumdass ;o)

[bird72]

last time I badmouthed the concept of Facebook on the internet I had grandparents who post pictures of their cute grandkids wanting to beat the cr@p out of me!

[PonchoV8]

I don't need Facebook. I don't need to get in touch with my feminine side.

[Formulabruce]

Anyone use the Weather Channel APP on their smart phone?
YOU are tracked!!

[The Champ]

There is nothing in my life so sensational that I need Facebook to announce it to the world.

I really don't care if Jim Bob or Bobbie Sue are now at the mall.

If I want you to know something - I can call, text, email or go over and see you and actually talk to you face to face (I think that's better the "Facebook".

[1969GTO]

a good friend of mine lost his marrage due to face book [an old girl friend] of his just wanted to say hi after all these years...oooops

[Old Goat 67]

Just got through fixing Mama's PC again.

All I said was "I don't care who sends you a link to some picture, one more time on Facebook, and it goes in the trash".

End of discussion.

[GT182]

Originally Posted by 68gtoMN

Another of the plethora of reasons why I will NEVER post my information no FACEBOOK

I have to agree with Kurt. And..... Happy Birthday.

If you want computer problems then by all means get on Facebook.