Essay on Should Facebook be allowed to collect data from its users?
Should Facebook be allowed to collect data from its users? Essay : Facebook is perhaps the cornerstone of social media that grabbed the attention of the entire world from its inception in 2010 with its unprecedented ability to bring two individuals together from across the globe. The Mark Zuckerberg-created social networking side came as a breath of fresh air as it afforded people from any religious, social or economic background to interact without the qualms of international borders.
Businesses grew with the opportunity to collaborate with offshore markets. However, the brighter side of Facebook was replaced by its much darker side after almost a decade in March 2019 when cybersecurity expert Brian Kerbs reported that the Zuckerberg-founded social media site was storing private information from users’ profiles.
Discussion
The security breach scandal was blown out of proportion expectantly. Facebook became popular because it assured people of their privacy. On the contrary, they stored users’ information non-consensually. This sparked a huge debate if social media websites with a voluminous use base should be allowed the free will to collect data.
While it is a known fact that once a user has created an account on Facebook, she or he has already agreed to the terms and agreements of Facebook allowing it to collect the user’s data. The clause states that the user’s data will be stored as long as she or he is active on the website. Contrary to popular belief, the networking site can collect and store personal information like photos, videos, posts and date of birth even after the user has left the site.
What’s more worrisome is that pivotal information like the user’s IP address, viewed content including advertisements, browsers used to gather information and the frequency of usage is stored. It results in the possibility of being influenced and exploited by companies collaborating with Facebook for earning hefty amounts
Despite Facebook’s agreeable terms and conditions, the threat of virtual surveillance looms over the users’ minds for granting a social media site the authority to collect and restore private and sensitive information threatens with violation of the Right to Privacy.
Facebook’s unchecked prowess to access information and manipulate it to its advantage has led to an increase in cyber crimes of varied forms. Cyberbullying is the most frequent crime committed in the virtual world, it has ranged from cyber-stalking, and defamation to theft and identity theft.
Facebook’s failure to safeguard users’ privacy has led it to become an incubator of hate. The social networking site had revealed hate-speech, defamation and intolerant attacks resulting in violent crimes against Muslims, minority caste peoples, women and the poor.
Despite Facebook’s claims of superior ability to protect users’ privacy.
Conclusion
The right to Privacy is an important aspect of modern-day human existence. Facebook’s attitude towards it has proven to be rather casual and negligent in keeping its user’ sensitive information secure. Despite the tech giant’s repeated reassurance, its failure of security has led to real-life crises in both its country of origin as well as countries around the globe. Facebook has been a boon in disguise, however, it shouldn’t be a recipient of absolute information lest it will be misused.
FAQs
Q1. Who invented Facebook?
Ans: Mark Zuckerberg invented Facebook.
Q2. Who reported Facebook’s unethical practice of collecting data non-consensually?
Ans: Cybersecurity expert Brian Kerbs reported that the Zuckerberg-founded social media site was storing private information from users’ profiles.
For more update follow our net explanations homepage