The United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a consent order binding Facebook to several actions in respect of privacy of FB users. This came on allegations that FB 'deceived consumers by telling them they could keep their information on Facebook private, and then repeatedly allowing it to be shared and made public.' With its consent, FB is agreeing not misrepresent how it maintains the privacy or security of users’ personal information; commit to obtain users’ “*affirmative express consent*” before sharing their information with any third party that “materially exceeds the restrictions imposed by a user’s privacy setting(s); to implement procedures to prevent a third party from accessing users’ information no later than 30 days after the user has deleted such information or terminated his or her account; establish, implement and maintain a comprehensive privacy program; must obtain initial and biennial assessments and reports regarding its privacy practices for the next 20 years. Here is the order in full: http://www.ftc.gov/os/caselist/0923184/111129facebookagree.pdf One of the commissioners dissented, both on technical grounds and what appears to be a pushback on the concept of 'plausible deniability' inherent to US administrative law. Here, his stated reasons for the dissent: http://www.ftc.gov/os/caselist/0923184/120810facebookstmtrosch.pdf - Carlton Samuels ============================== Carlton A Samuels Mobile: 876-818-1799 *Strategy, Planning, Governance, Assessment & Turnaround* =============================