(no subject)

[pensnest]

What ho, Etsy users! Rejoice, for they have decided to become a social network and follow the sterling example of Facebook by buggering about with your privacy.

See Ars Technica for the joyful news.

An edifying quote: "I just found a woman who's Etsy profile comes up on Google as the 5th link. I was expecting 6 or 7 pages down, but it's on the very first page, right after her online resumes," wrote one concerned user on the Penny Arcade forums. "She signed up a year ago, under the old privacy policy, and hasn't logged in since 2010. And now I know what dildo she uses. Right down to the curvature and coloring."

This will not end well.

Comments

[frausorge]

Well, fuck. Et tu, Etsy?

[pensnest]

Sad, isn't it. I hadn't bought anything via Etsy *yet*, but this is really off-putting.

[buddleia]

Every flipping application wants to be a social network now. My favourite bookmark app, Instapaper, that downloads stuff I want to read onto my iphone to read offline, suddenly started demanding an email and added all this sharing nonsense to my screen (which is miniscule to start with). I know it looks like we're all a fantastic data mine but how many social networks are we supposed to service?

/rant

[pensnest]

It's ridiculous, isn't it! I pick my own social networks, I certainly don't want random sites to start networking me!

[citruslover]

Hahaha! Oh wow, that quote. That's insane. I do not understand how all of these websites are not understanding the backlash over Facebook's idiotic privacy policies. Is it really that hard to avoid pissing off your customers? Apparently it is.

On the topic of random sites networking you though...I'm in a journalism course, and my professor dedicated an entire day to stalking people online. There are tons of websites which are allowed to compile and post publicly available info on everyone. Chances are, there's far more of your personal info floating around online than you realize. When I asked about ethical issues, her response was that "it's all public information." I'm not sure of the legalities in Europe, but I'm guessing it's similar...

[pensnest]

I'm pretty sure it would take about thirty seconds to figure out who I am, though as I don't need to worry about employers or publicity, I'm not vastly concerned.

But changing the terms of something *for the buyers* is just outrageous.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_titch/]

Yeah this change took place about 4 weeks ago I think. There was an email about it apparently but I don't tend to read them. Luckily I found out pretty quickly and changed my settings on there.

Still a douchey thing to do.

[pensnest]

At least you're a seller! They're doing this nonsense to buyers, too, which is beyond belief.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_titch/]

It is very worrying, especially for buyers. Why they don't automatically opt you out of things unless you change your mind is beyond me.

[pensnest]

It seems everybody wants to be like Facebook. :-(

[msktrnanny.livejournal.com]

Contrary to popular belief there are actually people out there that don't like Facebook. It's a pity all the nice websites out there- like Etsy- don't get that. I'll be very sad if I have to stop doing business there, it's a great atmosphere.

[pensnest]

Yeah - I have *no * desire for a Facebook or anything like it. But, I suppose, it made a great deal of money.

[solariana.livejournal.com]

I wonder if the woman in question ever realized her dildo secrets are now common net knowledge?

[pensnest]

Yike - what a thought!