Facebook and the Conspiracy of the CIA

Now, if you think that the next sexual predator is lurking down the corner, thanks to social networking and its proliferation of Internet perverts—think again. That’s not only the scary portion to giving up your privacy. Has it ever occurred to you that social networking services such as Facebook can be a source of transnational intelligence databanks? A social expose on what appears to be a free online service is actually a blanketed social surveillance unit that allows venture capitalists who have formerly served agencies like the CIA?

A site called “Does What Happens In The Facebook Stays In The Facebook,” provides interesting insights to what we think as an isolated anomaly in the vast expanse of the Internet. Complaints of subscribers having their pictures stolen and turned into visual images of a voyeur’s delight with the aid of digital photo editing software is not surprising at all. This site, http://albumoftheday.com/facebook narrates a very lucid discussion on the matter. Facebook goes as far as collecting personal information about you in newspapers or even other instant messaging services as part of its privacy policy.

While it allows you to post personal data such as educational history, political affiliation, birthdays, addresses, schedules and favorite music, it reserves the right to sell information about you to third party entities such as market research firms. Sadly, they do not end with market research outfits. It gives free membership, where else would they derive their earnings? Their advertisers and those who buy information from them.

Everything– from videos, music, private information and pictures– you place on their site becomes proprietary property of Facebook, therefore since it belongs to them, they can keep or dispose of it anyone way they like.

Now, here’s a portion of their terms of agreement revised last November 15, 2007, “…When you post User Content to the Site, you authorize and direct to make such copies thereof as we deem necessary in order to facilitate the posting and storage of the User Content on the Site…you automatically grant…to the Company an irrevocable…to use, copy, publicly perform…distribute such User Content for any purpose, commercial, advertising or otherwise.” Otherwise would also mean that one of their venture capitalists at one time or the other once served for the CIA and the US Department of Defense. Is that a coincidence or a fact that one of them happens to be a member of a radical group sponsoring a move to gather private information about people? Regardless of how you use the website Facebook nonetheless collects any information about you.

Facebook also allows placing how you are related to other people. What about the Pulse feature? It allows to collate information about how people feel about you and vital statistics about how people come about their personal beliefs and views. Is this a move to commercialize political agenda?

Even the CIA has formed a venture capital company called InQtel, the very same company who has become one of Facebook’s capitalists. Furthermore, once you impliedly contracted a relationship by agreeing to their terms is an indication that you fully cede your personal rights to them and fully give them consent to dispose of this kind of privacy you would otherwise shield by only allowing first degree friends to your profile.

The introduction of the Internet is a blessing with the deluge of information it offers. Unfortunately, it also has become a curse when it encroaches on the fundamental right to privacy and privileged placement of information.