FTC To Monitor MySpace And/Or Empty Space For 20 Years

from the why-you-write-broad-privacy-policies dept

Thu, May 10th 2012 11:20am — Mike Masnick

We've discussed many times that the main problem with privacy policies is that their very nature encourages companies to actually do less to care about your privacy. That is, the only way a company gets in trouble with their privacy policy is if they don't obey their own privacy policy. Thus, it's much smarter to create a privacy policy that effectively says that the company can do whatever it wants and doesn't have to respect users' privacy. In that way, it's much harder to actually violate someone's privacy. Considering that no one actually reads these privacy policies (and for the few who do, no one understands them) means that it's even easier to make that work. Still, however, some companies go beyond their own privacy policies, and the FTC has to step in and slap them around. The latest... is MySpace.

Yes, MySpace. That also-ran social networking site that no one uses any more has come to an agreement with the FTC over violating its own privacy policy. Specifically, it appears that MySpace made it possible for advertisers to associate identities with advertisements so that advertisers could build a direct profile of an individual. Of course, it doesn't appear that anyone actually did this. The settlement means that MySpace will undergo "regular privacy assessments" for the next 20 years. I have two thoughts on this: first, there is almost no chance that MySpace exists in 20 years. Second, I never understand this 20 year deadline on FTC deals. If, miraculously, there is still a MySpace in 2033, it can go back to skimping on its privacy protections?

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

Filed Under: ftc, privacy policy
Companies: myspace

24 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

Richard, 10 May 2012 @ 11:25am

So advertisers spied (could have spied) on all 4 remaining MySpace users?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Mike Masnick (profile), 10 May 2012 @ 11:26am
  
  Re:
  So advertisers spied (could have spied) on all 4 remaining MySpace users?
  
  I had thought there were only 3, but you're right. I had forgotten about Tom.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Dark Helmet (profile), 10 May 2012 @ 11:35am
    
    Re: Re:
    "I had thought there were only 3, but you're right. I had forgotten about Tom."
    
    You mispelled Bob....
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Mark, 10 May 2012 @ 11:43am
    
    Re: Re:
    Even Tom has moved away from Myspace
    
    By 2010, Anderson was no longer the default "friend" on Myspace, being replaced by a profile called "Today On MySpace" or "T.O.M.".[19] Anderson said on Facebook in September 2011 that "I left the company in early 2009, and like most of you, I don't like using it anymore ... not a fan of what the new folks have done with MySpace."[20]
    
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Anderson
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - :Lobo Santo (profile), 10 May 2012 @ 11:47am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Well, at least Tom has a facebook profile so he can keep in touch with his friends.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Glen, 10 May 2012 @ 11:54am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        He actually does a lot on Google +. Although lately it is more about showing off his photography skills. I started to follow him because of his takes on the technology and social networks.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 10 May 2012 @ 11:47am

Every day I expect at least one stupid thing from the government/corporations.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
GMacGuffin (profile), 10 May 2012 @ 12:05pm

If, miraculously, there is still a MySpace in 2033, it can go back to skimping on its privacy protections?

No, but our taxpayer dollars will no longer be used to keep an eye on them.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- GMacGuffin (profile), 10 May 2012 @ 12:09pm
  
  Re:
  Speaking of which, we should be able to cash in our "taxpayer bucks" for credits or prizes, like my credit cards and illegal gambling site (which was ICE'd twice, and promptly sent me emails telling them where they had moved. Great job ICE!)
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Liz (profile), 10 May 2012 @ 12:14pm

What do you mean MySpace won't be around in 20 years? I bet it'll be around as long as my Geocities page I made in 1998!

Huh, I don't seem to have a Geocities page any longer.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- silverscarcat (profile), 10 May 2012 @ 12:17pm
  
  Re:
  Geocities lasted 15 years at least.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Liz (profile), 10 May 2012 @ 12:22pm
    
    Re: Re:
    Well almost. Geocities was bought up by Yahoo! and put some questionable passages in their updated Terms of Service. Plus with the bandwith limits added and HUGE adspace hijacks, most of Geocities users left the service. Yahoo!Geocities languished for a number of years afterwards. A lot of people went to the next thing - Livejournal!
    
    While Livejournal is still around and in use, I don't know anyone personally that still uses it. Hardly ever hear about it any longer except in passing memory. A lot of people moved from LJ to MySpace. Then MySpace to Facebook. Now with G+ and Dispora cropping up, who knows what the next social site will be.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - silverscarcat (profile), 10 May 2012 @ 12:31pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      LJ is still used to find various fanfiction.
      
      I hear Conan O'Brian uses it to write Battlestar Galactica fanfiction.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - hothmonster, 10 May 2012 @ 1:03pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        "I hear Conan O'Brian uses it to write Battlestar Galactica fanfiction."
        
        Links, now!
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- GMacGuffin (profile), 10 May 2012 @ 12:21pm
  
  Re:
  This will fix that. (Courtesy of another Techdirt reader who missed Geocities)
  
  http://wonder-tonic.com/geocitiesizer/
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Liz (profile), 10 May 2012 @ 12:23pm
    
    Re: Re:
    OK, that's kinda sad and awesome at the same time. I LOL'd
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Glen, 10 May 2012 @ 12:27pm
    
    Re: Re:
    I entered Techdirt's URL. OUCH!!!
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Baldaur Regis (profile), 10 May 2012 @ 12:35pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Thanks Glen. Now my eyeballs are bleeding.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - :Lobo Santo (profile), 10 May 2012 @ 12:39pm
    
    Re: Re:
    You're welcome. (still)
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - GMacGuffin (profile), 10 May 2012 @ 12:47pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Oh, of course it was you :Lobo. Duh.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Baldaur Regis (profile), 10 May 2012 @ 12:27pm

"In an ironic twist of fate, FTC monitors will be required to have MySpace accounts, thus ensuring the Zombie MySpace will be twitching long after its expiration date."
--Courtesy Made Up News All Rights Reserved
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
pr, 10 May 2012 @ 12:37pm

In other news, it's reported that brake components used in certain 1953 Studebaker Starliners could rust when exposed to road salt, and NHTSA has ordered a recall.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 10 May 2012 @ 1:12pm

I think this type of thing is what the government should be poking around in. I do think the government has too much power overall, but I also think they have a place in providing oversight and consumer protection. Joe Citizen doesn't have the finances or wherewithal to battle corporations like this, and even if we did, we don't have the power to punish them when they're guilty. Yes, Myspace is an also-ran, but I still approve of the FTC sticking their nose in this.

As for the 20 years thing, it's probably just a rollover from offline investigations. Can anyone confirm if the FTC follows up on offline entities for 20 years if found guilty of wrong-doing? What I really want to see is this 20 year chain attached to Specific Media LLC and not just Myspace. That way when Myspace isn't around 20 years from now and Specific Media buys something else, they will still be under the same scrutiny.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Lord Binky, 10 May 2012 @ 2:16pm

How is this possibly bad? The FTC is creating jobs that will last 20 years and help protect the public (a very very small part of it at least). YAY Government jobs! Where good enough is above average.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]