(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

[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.