Besides the massive , what makes the one answering the questions about data collection by big tech companies? Facebook is not alone as the and other companies arguably collect information than Facebook. Here’s a look at why Facebook is taking the floor in answering questions from the Senate. Cambridge Analytica scandal Facebook internet’s privacy villain even more People Know Who Mark Zuckerberg Is Mark Zuckerberg is likely one of the most recognizable CEOs in the world. Thanks to , a movie about how Zuck founded Facebook, people know more about his story than any other CEO. The Social Network Other CEOs: Alphabet’s , Google’s , Amazon’s , and Twitter’s are well known in the tech realm. However most people wouldn’t recognize them in person or know much about them beyond their position. Zuckerberg is an icon, he embraces the spotlight — even if people . Larry Page Sundar Pichai Jeff Bezos Jack Dorsey criticize his authenticity People Use Facebook on a Daily Basis on average log onto Facebook daily and are considered daily active users. Internet users can relate to concerns about Facebook because they use the service so often and have a deep connection with it. 4 billion people Adding privacy protection to Facebook is something people can directly relate to and understand. People Agree To Facebook’s Privacy Policy & Terms of Service Facebook uses a broad blanket when users create an account. However, many features on Facebook are opt-out, meaning they are enabled by default and users have to choose to turn them off. privacy policy These policies, which very few users actually read, are a problem. If people can’t easily understand how their data is used, the privacy policies aren’t accomplishing their purpose for the users (only protecting the companies legally). Users Are Generally Comfortable with Sharing Information on Facebook People are comfortable sharing content on Facebook. Whether it’s a photo of their family or a status update, putting this out there has become the norm for Facebook users. Because people perceive Facebook as a social environment, they are given reinforcement — likes, shares, comments — for sharing information. Make your online presence work for you, not against you. Employers and admissions officers report that the internet can be a good place for applicants to present their talents, professionalism, and sociability. -Source: DigitalResponsibility.org Filling out a profile on Facebook involves making certain information about you public, at least to your friends. People don’t associate sharing information with or Amazon, by contrast. Google Facebook’s Data Collection Goes Well Beyond It’s Core Product Facebook says it has removed these , but prior to 2015 users could be targeted under the categories “diagnosis with HIV or AIDS”, “erectile dysfunction” and “binge-eating disorder awareness”. How would Facebook gather this data through its core products? targeting options “Facebook can learn almost anything about you by using artificial intelligence to analyze your behavior,” said for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital rights nonprofit. “That knowledge turns out be perfect both for advertising and propaganda. Will Facebook ever prevent itself from learning people’s political views, or other sensitive facts about them?” Peter Eckersley, the chief computer scientist Facebook uses its to collect information about users and their connections. many apps and products Facebook’s Product Line Facebook Instagram Messenger WhatsApp Internet.org by Facebook Oculus Facebook Has Virtually No Direct Competitors Mark Zuckerberg may be adamant that , but the numbers don’t lie. There are companies that provide parts of what Facebook does, but none are true alternatives. Facebook is not a monopoly Even companies calling themselves offer just a portion of Facebook’s features. And none can even come close to Facebook’s . alternatives to Facebook 2.2 billion users Facebook Offers Very Little Transparency Unfortunately because Facebook has so little competition, they don’t need to offer transparency. And users have demonstrated that even if they would like for the platform to share more about how it works, they aren’t willing to delete their accounts over it. Facebook discloses which information it gathers in its terms of use. However, users are often surprised to learn about the social network sharing other information with third-parties such as advertisers or other firms, like . Cambridge Analytica Source: Statista.com The company owns Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, making it the biggest player in the mobile messaging market by far. Messaging as a market is unique because users rely on other people using the same apps as them to communicate. If a user wants to switch to a different messaging app, in most cases they need the people they are communicating with to also switch. Conclusion So Facebook’s celebrity CEO, it’s massive user base and its monopoly status, make it a prime example for the tech industry as a whole. Because Facebook is so ingrained throughout the internet and every browsing session, people can clearly see the effects of . How Facebook responds to lawmakers’ questions will impact the future of for the entire internet and tech industry. data collection privacy regulations Read More _Google’s parent company, Alphabet, has a market cap of $712 billion. Within Google’s range of products, there are seven…_hackernoon.com Data Privacy Concerns with Google _Facebook's house of cards has taken yet another tumble today after Ars Technica revealed that Facebook tracks call and…_choosetoencrypt.com Facebook May Have Consent, But Not Approval - Choose To Encrypt _Facebook just revamped its privacy settings and terms of use, mostly in response to users who were upset about the…_choosetoencrypt.com Facebook Won't Fix the Internet's Bigger Privacy Problem - Choose To Encrypt

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