Facebook has now expanded its photo tagging to everyone on the site worldwide, reports Sophos, and the security firm's Graham Cluley sees it as more evidence that the company "is eroding the online privacy of its users by stealth." Facebook doesn't automatically tag photos of you with its facial recognition system, but it encourages your friends to do so. However, it is still possible to opt out of the tagging all together through the privacy settings. But, having it offered without your initial consent does seem a little fishy to me.
"The onus should not be on Facebook users having to 'opt-out' of the facial recognition feature, but instead on users having to 'opt-in,'" Cluley complains. At PC World, Ed Oswald agrees. "While it is a 'convenient' feature, it should be our choice whether or not we participate in potential changes that could affect our privacy," he writes. "Some people just don't like to be tagged in every single picture of themselves—myself included. Bottom line? Facebook shouldn't be making this choice for us." (Newser)
Privacy?...What is that?
"The onus should not be on Facebook users having to 'opt-out' of the facial recognition feature, but instead on users having to 'opt-in,'" Cluley complains. At PC World, Ed Oswald agrees. "While it is a 'convenient' feature, it should be our choice whether or not we participate in potential changes that could affect our privacy," he writes. "Some people just don't like to be tagged in every single picture of themselves—myself included. Bottom line? Facebook shouldn't be making this choice for us." (Newser)
Privacy?...What is that?