In the past couple of weeks, Facebook has made many changes that can at minimum be considered troubling to anyone concerned about their information getting shared publicly. The following post and video comes from the EFF (The Electronic Frontier Foundation)**.  (LINK: http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/04/how-opt-out-facebook-s-instant-personalization (http://www NULL.eff NULL.org/deeplinks/2010/04/how-opt-out-facebook-s-instant-personalization)).

(SOAPBOX) TGM is NOT advocating a position on either side of the debate (At this time), everyone who uses technology should be aware of their choices and be able to find what works for them.  It is up to each person to chose how much information they care to expose publicly, what 1 person thinks is unacceptable, someone else may see as just the cost of getting a new feature. The following information is directed at those who believe the steps Facebook is taking is unacceptable  (END SOAPBOX)

How to Opt Out of Facebook’s Instant Personalization

Deeplink by Kurt Opsahl (http://www NULL.eff NULL.org/about/staff/kurt-opsahl)Update: Friday morning Facebook changed its privacy settings layout, making it a bit more challenging to opt out completely. As before, unchecking the “Allow” box is not sufficient because you need to block each Instant Personalization website to fully opt out. However, the previous path (via “Learn More”) to the necessary Block Application buttons was removed, with Facebook suggesting instead you first go to the sites (at which point your information is disclosed), and then click “‘No Thanks’ on the blue Facebook notification on the top of partner sites.” To fully opt out, you need to:

1. Go to the Instant Personalization (http://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/settings/?tab=privacy&section=applications&field=instant_personalization) privacy setting and uncheck the “Allow” button. Click confirm. Come back to this page.
2. Go to the page for Microsoft Docs (http://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/docs), click Block Application on the page, click Block Application on the pop-up, and click Okay on the next pop-up. Come back to this page.
3. Go to the page for Pandora (http://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/apps/application NULL.php?id=139475280761), click Block Application on the page, click Block Application on the pop-up, and click Okay on the next pop-up. Come back to this page.
4. Go to the page for Yelp (http://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/apps/application NULL.php?id=97534753161) , click Block Application on the page, click Block Application on the pop-up, and click Okay on the next pop-up. Come back to this page.
5. Optional: Go to the Facebook Site Governance (http://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/fbsitegovernance?v=wall&story_fbid=120701477944064) page, and express your opinion in a comment.

 

**About the EFF – From Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_Frontier_Foundation (http://en NULL.wikipedia NULL.org/wiki/Electronic_Frontier_Foundation))

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is an international non-profit digital rights advocacy and legal organization based in the United States. Its stated mission is to:

• Engage in and support educational activities which increase popular understanding of the opportunities and challenges posed by developments in computing and telecommunications.
• Develop among policy-makers a better understanding of the issues underlying free and open telecommunications, and support the creation of legal and structural approaches which will ease the assimilation of these new technologies by society.
• Raise public awareness about civil liberties issues arising from the rapid advancement in the area of new computer-based communications media.
• Support litigation in the public interest to preserve, protect, and extend First Amendment rights within the realm of computing and telecommunications technology.
• Encourage and support the development of new tools which will endow non-technical users with full and easy access to computer-based telecommunications.